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Storms and heavy rain cause floods in Western Germany

15 July 2021
Storms and prolonged heavy rain caused numerous floods and associated damage in western Germany. Locations in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate are particularly affected. Several rivers and streams have burst their banks, roads have been flooded and cellars have been filled. Numerous buildings and infrastructures were destroyed in the course of the storms. Currently, more than 40 people have lost their lives and others are still missing.

Tornado in South Moravia, Czech Republic

24 June 2021
An unusual strong tornado by European Standards, reaching category F3/F4, passed through the South Moravian region of the Czech Republic on June 24, 2021. The tornado claimed several casualties and more than 200 injuries. Seven villages located between Břeclav and Hodonín were devastated by the destructive winds with speeds between 254 and 332 km/h accompanied by hailstones of above-average size. Besides severe damages to buildings, uprooting trees, overturning cars and damage of power transmission infrastructure were also reported.

“Forest Fire 2021” drill and devising new products with the Bavarian Red Cross (BRK)

17 May 2021
On May 17, 2021 a joint “Forest Fire 2021” drill took place involving the Schweinfurt Integrated Control Centre of the Bavarian Red Cross (BRK) and ZKI. Using various real-world response scenarios relating to the “forest fire” issue, staff of the Integrated BRK Control Centre in Schweinfurt underwent training in assessing the need for remote-sensing-based disaster information and subsequent activation procedures.

Earth observation data for the federal administration

05 May 2021
Earth observation data are used in many areas of public administration - for example in traffic analysis, environmental monitoring or crisis management. The importance of these data is increasing, and at the same time, remote sensing results from space or from the air become more accurate and are available more quickly. The Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Construction and Home Affairs (BMI) has now concluded the IF-Bund framework agreement with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), which is open to all federal authorities. This enables research results from remote sensing to be identified for use in administration and quickly applied in practice.

Nationales Forum für Fernerkundung und Copernicus und Digitaler Katastrophenschutzkongress: ZKI participated

19 April 2021
From 23 to 24 March 2021, the "National Forum for Remote Sensing and Copernicus" took place virtually for the first time under the leitmotif "Copernicus: New Dimensions". The ZKI participated with a keynote speech "Remote sensing products as a service for security authorities" together with the Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy (BKG) in the specialist session "Big Brother is watching you? What security authorities can (not) do with remote sensing data".

Stau am Suezkanal

26. März 2021
Seit Dienstag, dem 23.3.2021, blockiert das 400 Meter lange Containerschiff "Ever Given" den Suezkanal, eine der wichtigsten Wasserstraßen der Welt. Die Schifffahrt auf dem Kanal musste eingestellt werden. Wahrscheinlich wird die Bergung noch länger dauern, was weitreichende Folgen für die Wirtschaft hat. Laut Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie sind bereits internationale Logistik-Turbulenzen zu spüren. Zentrale Lieferketten drohen demnach aufgrund fehlender Container, unpünktlicher Schiffe und fehlender Transportkapazität ins Stocken zu geraten.

Crisis management system for natural disasters

09 February 2021
Disasters require the perfect coordination of situation rooms, rapid response teams and public authorities. Major natural disasters, complex danger situations, and cross-border events stretch first responders to their limits. Methodologies and technologies developed In the HEIMDALL project can help those involved to prepare for and effectively manage such scenarios.

DLR supports detection of Cyclone Eloise’s impacts on Eswatini

02 February 2021
Several Southern African countries were hit by Cyclone Eloise, which made landfall near Beira, Mozambique on 23rd of January 2021. Although it mostly dissipated on its path over Southern Africa, several thousands of people are affected by its impacts. Amongst the most affected countries, Eswatini has been struck by strong winds, heavy rainfalls and rising river water levels.