Intense rainfall across various regions of Germany has resulted in widespread flooding and a substantial number of flight cancellations at Frankfurt Airport, a vital European air travel hub and the busiest airport in the country.
As reported by The Associated Press, the heavy downpours have caused significant flooding in parts of Germany, leading to a significant disruption in flight operations at Frankfurt Airport. The airport, which plays a crucial role in European air travel, experienced challenging conditions due to the accumulation of substantial amounts of water on the tarmac on Wednesday evening. This led to a suspension of ground handling activities for a duration exceeding two hours, as detailed by the German news agency dpa.
According to information available on the airport’s official website, approximately 70 flights were cancelled by 11 p.m., which marks the customary suspension of flight operations for the night. In addition to the cancellations, 23 flights scheduled to land at Frankfurt were redirected to alternate airports.
The impact of the heavy rainfall extended beyond the airport premises, causing flooding in parts of southwestern and central Germany. Streets and basements were submerged in water due to the intense downpours. The city of Gelsenkirchen, located in the western Ruhr district, faced particularly challenging conditions. The local fire service reported the rescue of individuals from their vehicles, as several highway underpasses were inundated.
The situation remains dynamic as authorities and emergency services work to address the aftermath of the heavy rainfall and flooding across affected areas.
Had quite a few DM’s from people wondering why flights were diverting away from Frankfurt….here’s your answer
— Flight Emergency (@FlightEmergency) August 16, 2023
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