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The pier tower on the north pier in Bremerhaven
Photo:
Sina Schuldt / dpa
In Bremerhaven, parts of the north pier have collapsed, and with them a famous lighthouse.
The tilted position of the tower on the Weser can be seen in pictures, and it threatens to fall over.
"There is nothing more that can be saved," said the head of the waterway police, Uwe Old, to "buten un binnen".
“We can only be glad that we don't have a storm situation, that there are still waves against it.
But I guess in the next few days it'll be superfluous for this tower, alas,' Old said.
The lighthouse is one of the symbols of the city.
The entrance to the Geeste, a tributary of the Weser, was closed.
The operation of the Weser ferry also had to be stopped.
It was not immediately clear how long the lockdown would last.
The Weser itself can continue to be navigated.
A new building was planned
Initial fears that the tower could collapse at low tide at midday because the pier would no longer be supported by the water were not confirmed.
The mole head can still be seen in an inclined position on images from a webcam from the Weser-Jade-North Sea Waterways and Shipping Office.
The affected area on the pier had been dilapidated for years and had already been cordoned off.
According to media reports, construction work on a new building should begin at the end of next year.
hba