The waters recede - but the danger remains

Several days of rainfall at the end of May and the start of June led to floods in the eastern and southern German states. Several rivers broke their banks. Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia all declared a state of emergency.

Volunteers filled and stacked sandbags round the clock in many parts of Germany to protect dikes and buildings from flooding. The water levels have now partially sunk, but the danger has not yet abated.

Large swathes of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt are still under water. Concern is growing that the dikes may yet soften and break under the pressure. Many people are refusing to leave their homes and farms, despite the danger.

The German army was also mobilized to stabilize the endangered dikes - though not always with success. A dike broke near Fischbeck on the Elbe, and now houses in the small town north of Magdeburg can only be reached by boat. Endangered villages were largely evacuated in advance.

Thousands of firemen, soldiers, volunteers, and other aid workers were mobilized across Germany. In several areas, the helpers were engaged in rescuing people from their own homes. Many underestimated the danger and were surprised by the flooding.

People are thankful for the help of the soldiers, firemen, and especially the volunteers. Without them, the extent of the damage would certainly have been much wider. In some places, like here in Magdeburg, inhabitants expressed their thanks on large bed sheets.

The floods became a deadly trap for many wild animals. Deer and wild boar have a good chance of saving themselves if the water rises slowly, but many smaller animals, like mice, hamsters, and rabbits drown in their underground homes. Since it was also nesting time, many birds still too young to fly were also killed.

Aerial shots show the extent of the damage caused by the flooding, the cost of which is already being estimated in the billions of euros. The flood not only destroyed many livelihoods, it also decimated the infrastructure in several places - streets, bridges, and even highways have been severely damaged.

Even though the rain has stopped, it will take several days for the water to run off. Some streets in the flooded towns resemble small rivers, and anything that wasn't nailed down can often be seen floating along in them. Apart from wood and furniture, garbage and dead animals are also being dragged along.

Cleanup work has already begun in southern Germany. Cellars and ground floor apartments are being cleared out, and any furniture that workers manage to extract has to be taken to the refuse dump. As the waters recede, as here in Lunzenau, the damage becomes visible.

Chancellor Angela Merkel came to the flooded regions to see the damage for herself. In an election year, such images are always important to a politician. The chancellor offered comfort to local inhabitants and rescue workers and promised that the federal government would provide financial aid.