Thanks to the efforts of more than 700 firefighters and volunteers, the residents of the East Frisian villages of Langholt and Hollen escaped a disastrous Christmas.
Two dikes threatened to collapse under the pressure of the high water level. The fire brigade spent hours reinforcing the flood defenses. “They were helped by many volunteers,” says Philipp Koenen of the Landkreis Leer. “Among other things, many sandbags were placed.”
Several streets under water
Some streets in Langholt were flooded, but further damage was prevented. Residents did not have to be evacuated. The fire brigade announced on Tuesday afternoon that the dikes are stable again. The water level is expected to drop on Wednesday morning, when the tide is low.