German chancellor promises solidarity in fight against floods

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has promised support to the areas in Germany hit by floods, including for the subsequent repair of the damage, during a visit to one of the affected regions.

"It is clear that this will only be possible together, and this must also be done in a spirit of solidarity in Germany," he said during a trip to the state of Saxony-Anhalt on Thursday.

Several regions in Germany and other parts of north-western Europe have been struggling with floods for about two weeks now. Scholz had already visited flooded areas in Lower Saxony on New Year's Eve.

The chancellor said he was impressed by the solidarity across state borders in the fight against the floods. "I think that shows that we can stand together in Germany."

Scholz was greeted in Sangerhausen by a group of around 10 people shouting slogans such as "criminal" and "go straight back."

He was accompanied by Environment Minister Steffi Lemke and Saxony-Anhalt's State Premier Reiner Haseloff.

On site, Lemke pointed out that in the medium and long term, municipalities, federal states and the German government need to agree on how to better prepare for such events.

"The water needs space, you can see that up close here," she said. It will also be about "how help can be provided, where help is needed, financially, but also in other ways."

A state of emergency was declared in the Mansfeld-Südharz district shortly before New Year. The River Helme had burst its banks in places. Several towns along the river are currently under threat.

In other states too, especially in Lower Saxony, the emergency services have been battling the mass of water for days. Many water gauges in Lower Saxony and parts of Bremen continue to indicate the highest reporting level.

French relief workers built a mobile dyke in the northern German town of Winsen an der Aller on Thursday to protect the community against flooding.

France had offered the German state of Lower Saxony a team consisting of 39 specialists through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

About 600 metres of a 1.2-kilometre-long dyke system are to be built by the crew.

The flood situation is still very critical, Lower Saxony's Interior Minister Daniela Behrens said.

“This is a great sign of great international solidarity, especially since France is also currently dealing with floods,” Behrens said.

Meanwhile, the German Weather Service (DWD) has warned of continuous rain. It is now set to get colder. "The precipitation in the plagued flood areas is decreasing more and more and turning into snow," the DWD announced.

Winter is returning with the weather getting increasingly cold and icy, it said. The effects of the sub-zero temperatures on the flooded areas remain unclear.

Emergency services had warned people not to go near the flood water, but not everyone heeded this warning.

In Hanover, a large contingent of up to 100 people plus boats, divers, drones and a helicopter were deployed because they thought a person was helpless in the water, according to the fire brigade.

Witnesses later reported that they had seen a swimmer in a wetsuit and swimming cap. He got out of the water and rode away on his bike.