In Deggendorf, Bavaria, amidst ongoing high water levels and a swimming ban, a woman caught attention by swimming in a flooded pedestrian underpass. The voluntary fire department of Deggendorf intervened to address the situation, highlighting the importance of adhering to swimming bans in flood-affected areas. The woman, dressed in a swimsuit, disregarded the risks and ventured into the flooded area during the high water levels, prompting the fire department’s response.
During a routine patrol, the fire department noticed two young individuals observing the flooded underpass. Upon signaling for them to move away, a woman emerged from the water in a swimsuit, climbed onto a ledge, and prepared to dive back in. City Fire Chief Inspector, Tim Rothenwöhrer, recounted this daring act and swiftly instructed the woman to vacate the area. Such risky behaviors have become somewhat normalized during floods, with instances of people bypassing safety measures to take selfies or engage in reckless activities for social media content.
City officials and emergency responders have expressed concern over the trend of „disaster tourism,“ where individuals flout safety guidelines during natural calamities for personal gratification or social media imagery. Tragic incidents like the unfortunate death of a 57-year-old woman in her submerged vehicle due to ignoring barricades in Unterallgäu serve as grim reminders of the dangers posed by such actions. The community urged residents to respect swimming bans in flooded regions, emphasizing the need for vigilance and adherence to safety protocols.
As the flood crisis intensifies in Lower Bavaria and Upper Palatinate, with evacuations in Regensburg and a state of emergency declared in Passau, authorities stress the criticality of heeding safety regulations to mitigate risks and ensure public welfare. Despite the challenging circumstances, the municipality of Deggendorf looks forward to the imminent opening of the public swimming season, urging community members to prioritize safety and cooperate in the face of the ongoing flood challenges.