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No investigations against ex-district administrator after flood disaster in Ahr Valley
Koblenz: Investigations into the 2021 flood disaster have been discontinued, disciplinary proceedings against ex-district administrator Pföhler are ongoing.
No investigations against ex-district administrator after flood disaster in Ahr Valley
In the Ahr Valley, where a devastating flood disaster raged in July 2021, the legal situation surrounding the former district administrator Jürgen Pföhler (CDU) has become even more serious. This disaster tragically claimed the lives of 135 people and injured hundreds, while more than 9,000 homes were destroyed or damaged. A foretaste of the tragedy of those days that still resonates today.
Three weeks after the flood, the Koblenz public prosecutor's office launched an investigation. According to the allegations, Pföhler allegedly failed to issue timely warnings to the population, which supported the allegations of negligent homicide and bodily harm. But in April 2024 the investigation was stopped. According to the public prosecutor's office, there were significant errors in the district administrator's behavior, but it could not be proven that earlier warnings would have ensured people's survival. This becomes clear in the SWR report, which emphasizes that the Koblenz Public Prosecutor's Office will not reopen the investigation.
Disciplinary proceedings and pension withholding
Despite the discontinuation of the criminal investigation, Pföhler does not remain without consequences. Disciplinary proceedings, which were initiated in 2021, are aimed at serious violations of civil service obligations. The Interior Ministry of Rhineland-Palatinate has determined that Pföhler's actions before, during and after the flood violated the lawfulness, duty of good conduct and duty of action. His lawyer rejects the allegations as unfounded, but the situation remains tense. Pföhler is currently being heard on the allegations, and Interior Minister Michael Ebling confirmed that the disciplinary proceedings are nearing completion.
As a temporary measure, one third of his monthly pension had to be withheld. This is a clear indication that the authorities are taking the incidents surrounding the flood disaster seriously. Although the public prosecutor's investigation has been discontinued, some survivors and injured people are fighting against this decision and can apply for a review by the Koblenz Higher Regional Court within a month.
Disaster risk management and lessons for the future
The flood disaster in the Ahr Valley is not only an example of the devastating effects of natural events, but also a wake-up call to strengthen disaster risk management. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) emphasizes that success in dealing with such disasters depends heavily on a society's ability to analyze and minimize risks. Strengthened disaster risk management can help not only save lives but also prevent economic and environmental damage.
- Ziel 1: Keine Armut
- Ziel 2: Kein Hunger
- Ziel 11: Nachhaltige Städte und Gemeinden
- Ziel 13: Maßnahmen zum Klimaschutz
The international community, represented by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, focuses on sustainable development and protects against the devastating consequences of disasters. The lessons from the Ahr Valley should not be lost.