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Ahr Valley: Why wrecked cars are a danger after the flood

2021-07-28T13:56:08.054Z


After worrying about mountains of rubbish and the risk of epidemics, the countless broken vehicles are now the focus. More precisely: their tanks.


Read the video transcript here

The tide is over, but the clean-up continues unabated.

In Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, countless wrecked cars had to be cleared from streets and access roads.

When recovering them, the emergency services proceed with caution: the car tanks could burst and gasoline and diesel could leak.

Karl-Heinz Bedau, crane operator: »You know, petrol is flammable.

And when it comes to air, it's even more dangerous.

And you just have to - I don't smoke, for example, but you have to say that smoking is prohibited here.

Because you just know that there is potential for danger here, and then you have to contain it.

Everyone has to have that much responsibility. "

The damage is documented so that the car owner can claim it from their insurance company.


The destroyed traffic routes must also be restored.

A THW team is building a temporary bridge over the Ahr.

The flood has destroyed almost all the roads across the river.

Dominic Baltes, Head of Operations at THW: “That was a special challenge that we encountered here.

We initially had about five to seven days of preparation time before we could start building this bridge.

That means, we first had to make the space because of all the floating debris that was washed up by the flood. "

The temporary bridge will be a good 50 meters long, and at least four more are planned in the Ahrweiler district.

Until it is finished, the residents can only get to the other side of the river with this makeshift ferry.

Gerold Amelung, resident: »All the taxi companies are on the town side. And we've been trying for days to get a taxi, and none of them come over. And then you have to get someone from the Eifel. Well, we are very happy, I think that the bridge should be finished by the beginning of the week after next. And the THW is doing an amazing job here. "

Source: spiegel

All life articles on 2021-07-28

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