Winter thaw in Germany causes two deaths

A winter thaw in Germany has led to at least two deaths over the weekend, as melting snow and ice caused river waters to rise across the country, Deutche Welle reported.

Near the southwestern city of Pforzheim, a 50-year-old kayaker was found dead in the river Enz. In Bavaria, a 67-year-old man died after melting snow loosened scaffolding on a building site, which then hit the man on the head.

Towns in the wine-growing region along the Moselle River, including Cochem and Zell, were flooded with several meters of water earlier Sunday. Emergency services have strengthened flood protection in Koblenz at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers.
Parts of Cologne were also flooded, in some areas up to 8.19 meters (nearly 30 feet).

In the central state of Thuringia, road bridges had to be closed in response to the floods, with more meltwater expected later in the week. Initial flooding on secondary rivers in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt has also put authorities on high alert.

Rail travel was also affected, as trains had to be diverted away from flooded tracks in the city of Wuppertal in North Rhine-Westphalia.
In neighboring Belgium, emergency services are on the highest level of alert, according to the Belga news agency. Some local authorities were distributing bottled water.

Floodwaters are expected to continue rising overnight to Monday.