THW is practicing controlled dike blasting on the Wurster North Sea coast

Emergency services from the Technical Relief Agency (THW) from all over Lower Saxony practiced the controlled demolition of dikes in the event of a flood emergency on the Wurster North Sea coast (Cuxhaven district). The exercise scenario is quite realistic, said Sven Biskupek, group leader of the blasting specialist group of the THW local branch in Cuxhaven, who organized the exercise.

He referred to the winter floods of 2023/2024 in Lower Saxony. “There was a risk of a dike breaking on the Hunte in Oldenburg and a relief blast would have had to be carried out there,” said Biskupek. Fortunately, this wasn't necessary after all. But the THW wants to prepare for such operational situations and possible dike blasting in order to relieve the water pressure on dikes. Therefore, such exercises are helpful.

What exactly was blown up

During the exercise, specialists blasted openings into the ground in two places on a specially constructed, several-meter-high training dike. The effort required for the exercise was very high, said Biskupek. “This is a special event that we carried out here today.”

Lower Saxony's Interior Minister Daniela Behrens (SPD) followed the exercise. «I've never seen anything like it. “It looked very spectacular,” said the SPD politician after the explosion. The minister also emphasized that it is important that the volunteer forces prepare for such situations. Dikes should actually protect against water, said Behrens. Opening them is something unusual and requires practice.

According to the minister, there are a total of four THW teams across Lower Saxony that could take on such explosions in an emergency. A total of 70 THW staff and many other staff from other aid organizations took part in the exercise. “That is very, very honorable and also very helpful, because Lower Saxony’s disaster control system would not function at all without volunteer work,” said Behrens.