Flood situation in Chemnitz remains tense

The flood situation in the city remained tense late on Sunday evening. The declared disaster alert is still in effect. The Chemnitz (level at 11.30 p.m.: 3.76 metres) and the Zwönitz (2.72 metres) are at flood warning level 4, the highest warning level. The Würschnitz is still at level 3 (2.24 metres). Both rivers and the second-order watercourses, Kappelbach (1.32 metres) and Pleißenbach (1.51 metres), have partially burst their banks.

All in all, the fire brigade, including the professional fire brigade and all volunteer fire brigades as well as the police, had been in constant operation since Saturday evening. The THW, ASB and DRK were also deployed with numerous volunteers and police. A total of 150 operations were registered on Sunday night, with a further 180 operations during the day. 20 people had to be evacuated by the evening. The focus of the operations was in Erfenschlag and Einsiedel as well as along the sections of the river that had flooded over the course of Sunday.

A total of 110 people answered the citizens' hotline to volunteer to help the volunteer fire brigades in Erfenschlag, Glösa, Adelsberg and Klaffenbach fill sandbags. A total of around 40 tonnes of sand have been distributed since the floods began.

There will be no regular lessons at any of Chemnitz's schools on Monday. Emergency care will be provided in all facilities. The primary schools in Harthau and Klaffenbach will remain closed on Monday. Emergency childcare will be provided in the "La Rustica" pub for Harthau primary school pupils whose parents are unable to secure alternative childcare. Emergency childcare for the Klaffenbach primary school will be provided in the gymnasium in Adorfer Straße. The schools will also inform parents directly.

All accessible day care centres are open. Due to the flood situation, the Gustav-Freytag-Straße and Schulstraße daycare centres and the daycare centre in Einsiedel will remain closed. Information about alternative childcare options will be provided on site on Monday morning.

The State Flood Centre and the German Weather Service continue to warn of further rainfall, some of it heavy, meaning that the situation is still expected to worsen. The filling points for sandbags are still active: sandbags can be obtained from the Erfenschlag (Dr.-Karl-Wolf-Straße 1) and Glösa (Bornaer Straße 205) volunteer fire brigades as well as in Klaffenbach opposite the Baufeld company and from Kran Walther in Adelsberg if required.

Numerous roads had to be closed due to the flooding and the continuous rain; on Sunday evening, this still affected around 40 roads. New roads included Markersdorfer Straße between Parkstraße and Reichsstraße as well as Südring, Fabrikstraße near Hartmannhalle, Hartmannstraße and Matthesstraße between Fritz-Matzschke-Straße and Leipziger Straße. Drivers should also pay attention to the signs on site. The latest information will be posted on the Internet.

There are also restrictions on the CVAG and Citybahn (line 522) routes. Details can be found at www.cvag.de and www.city-bahn.de.

The municipal swimming pool, which was also affected by the floods, must remain closed until further notice .

All of Chemnitz's rivers are being constantly monitored and regularly checked. Citizens along the waterways are called upon to take appropriate precautions and to continue to inform themselves about the weather and flood situation. Due to the high demand, the city administration has kept the citizens' hotline on 0371 488-3344 open overnight for those seeking advice. The citizens' hotline received more than 3,500 calls by 11 p.m. on Sunday.

It is requested that the emergency number and the fire brigade control centre are only called for people in danger and medical emergencies. For all other questions, please contact the citizens' hotline.

Anyone looking for people can also contact the district information centre on 0371 70080113.