20 years after the tsunami: a survivor looks back

Anke Barteit, a resident of the Ahr Valley, remembers two terrible natural disasters who gave their lives a deep cut. In 2004 she was triggered on vacation on Phuket, Thailand when the devastating tsunami arrived, by a strong seaquake in the Indian Ocean. Anke and her partner Heinz were able to save themselves to an upper floor of their beach hotel, while the huge tidal waves flooded the coasts in Asia and Africa. On the first night after Tsunami, Anke managed to calm her parents in Germany. Shortly before New Year's Eve 2004 they were flown out of the disaster area.

Today it suffers from a tense relationship with water. So she leaves the bathroom door and shower door open while showering. Months after the tsunami, she jumped out of the car during a washing process in a car wash and ran away. Anke and her partner collected donations and flew to Phuket again a few months after the disaster to help the victims. Anke's dream was to fly to Phuket on the 20th anniversary of the tsunamis to commemorate. Due to a serious illness, however, she had to do without the trip.

flood disaster in the Ahrtal 2021

In 2021, Anke Barteit was again hit by a disaster when the flood disaster in the Ahr Valley flooded her apartment. She was able to save herself to the first floor of her house, but has no memory of how she got there. When she commemorates in the Lourdes chapel near Bachem, she lights candles for the victims of the tsunamis and thinks of the people who did not survive them, especially on the second Christmas day. A candle is also for her partner Heinz, who died a few months ago.

The flood disaster in the Ahr Valley has been one of the most severe natural events in Western Europe for decades, which took place in the summer of 2021. Affected countries included Germany, Belgium, Austria and Switzerland. 180 people were killed in Germany, 700 were injured, and 73 people are considered missing. The preliminary estimates of German insurance companies put the economic damage only for the insured damage between 4.5 and 5.5 billion euros. The Ahr Valley region, known for its wine cultivation and hiking tourism, is particularly seriously affected, where up to 90 liters of rain per square meter fell during the floods. The floods are considered once every 500 years or less often.

In the long term, these events have led to massive impairments for the residents, many live in emergency accommodation, and 150 people have no access to gas and heating. There is also a great disappointment about the government's reaction to the disaster, especially with regard to the organization and warnings after the crisis.

The events in the Ahr Valley clearly show the effects of human -made climate change, which has increased the likelihood and intensity of rainfall. Forecasts indicate that these trends will continue to increase with global warming of up to 2 ° C. The question remains whether the flood disaster will lead to a rethink in climate policy.

For Anke Barteit, the memory of the victims of the natural disasters remains an important part of their life, and the memories of the experiences in the Ahr Valley and in Thailand shape them up to the present.