German soldiers help fill sandbags in flood district in Saxony-Anhalt
Germany's armed forces, the Bundeswehr, began their deployment in the flooded area in the state of Saxony-Anhalt on Friday, a few days earlier than originally planned.
Some 200 soldiers have been helping to fill and distribute sandbags in the Mansfeld-Südharz district in the south of Saxony-Anhalt since Friday, a spokeswoman for the Bundeswehr said.
The initial aim is to stabilize a section of the dyke in the town of Sangerhausen.
The soldiers are due help out in the flooded area until January 14. They are to distribute a total of 600,000 sandbags.
The district declared a state of emergency on December 30 because the Helme river had flooded.
Around 500 volunteers coordinated by the district were deployed at the beginning of the year as well as several hundred civilian volunteers.
Local resident Martha Schöße says she has never experienced a situation like this before.
"Of course we’re scared too," added Schöße, who has lived on the outskirts of Oberröblingen, part of Sangerhausen, for more than 50 years.
Every day she checks whether the water in the garden has risen. "I would go. The suitcases are packed long since. But my husband doesn't want to. And I won’t leave him alone," she told dpa.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, together with Environment Minister Steffi Lemke and Saxony-Anhalt Premier Reiner Haseloff, visited an affected area in the state on Thursday to get an idea of the situation on the ground.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier thanked the tens of thousands of volunteers in the flooded areas and expressed his respect. “Everyone who helps with this flood deserves the thanks of our entire nation,” Steinmeier said on Friday. "This shows that when it comes down to it, our country stands together."
Forecasts from the German Weather Service promise relief over the next few days.
According to the weather experts, it is still expected to rain on Friday. From Saturday, however, it will be much cooler, precipitation will turn to snow and temperatures are expected to be well below freezing even during the day.
