Towns reinforce dikes as heavy rains ship rivers over their banks in Germany and the Netherlands

FRANKFURT, Germany — Firefighters and volunteers labored to strengthen dikes towards rising floodwaters in northern and jap Germany as heavy rains falling on already soaked floor pushed rivers and streams over their banks and compelled a number of cities to evacuate residents.

The metropolis of Braunschweig in Lower Saxony deployed a man-made dike – a protracted tube full of water from the rising river – to guard its downtown space, whereas a number of hundred residents of Windehausen within the Thuringia area had been informed to go away their properties because the city misplaced energy, the dpa information company reported.

Hundreds of volunteers joined firefighters to pack sandbags atop weakened flood-control berms in Uplengen, close to Bremen in northern Germany.

Several flood plains had been additionally underwater Tuesday within the jap Netherlands. Rivers surged, inflicting localized flooding, and a few short-term dikes had been being constructed with massive sandbags. The numerous branches of the Rhine that move via the Netherlands are anticipated to peak on Thursday.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte posted on X that “the high water causes problems in parts of the country. We are closely monitoring the situation and taking measures where necessary. I wish everyone in the Netherlands who is dealing with the unpleasant consequences of the heavy rainfall a lot of strength.”

Heavy rains have additionally swollen rivers in jap Belgium in current days, the place authorities have issued warnings for the Our River, which marks the border with Germany, and its tributaries.