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Rescues at Drained Schwarzenbach Reservoir Prompt Fresh Safety Warnings

Officials say warnings cannot fully counter curiosity-driven risk-taking.

Overview

  • Emergency crews have rescued three people from the exposed lakebed at the Schwarzenbach reservoir in Baden-Württemberg.
  • The operator EnBW drained the reservoir to allow work on the dam, with the renovation scheduled to run through October.
  • Firefighters warn that the deepest areas act like a moor and that steep banks can give way, creating hazards that are hard to spot.
  • EnBW reports more than 100 warning signs and access barriers around the site, yet says closing the entire shoreline is not feasible.
  • The unusual landscape is drawing visitors, and a psychologist says people often misjudge such risks because the danger does not feel immediate and they trust their own abilities too much.