Europe flood death toll tops 160, costly rebuilding ahead
Europe flood death toll tops 160, costly rebuilding ahead
Associated Press
Sunday, 18 July 2021, 07:26
Last update: about 9 hours ago
Rescue workers labored to deal with damage laid bare by receding water Saturday as the death toll from disastrous flooding in Western Europe rose above 160 and thoughts turned to the lengthy job of rebuilding communities devastated in minutes.
The death toll in western Germany s Rhineland-Palatinate state, home to the badly hit Ahrweiler county, rose to 98. Another 43 people were confirmed dead in neighboring North Rhine-Westphalia state. Belgium’s national crisis center said the country s confirmed death toll rose to 27.
July 17, 2021 Share
The death toll from disastrous flooding in Western Europe rose above 150 on Saturday as rescue workers toiled to clear up the devastation revealed by receding water and prevent further damage.
Police said that more than 90 people are now known to have died in western Germany’s Ahrweiler county, one of the worst-hit areas, and more casualties are feared. On Friday, authorities gave a death toll of 63 for Rhineland-Palatinate state, where Ahrweiler is located.
Another 43 people were confirmed dead in neighboring North Rhine-Westphalia state, Germany’s most populous. Belgium’s national crisis center put the confirmed death toll in that country at 24 and said it expects the number to rise.
Flood death toll rises to 156 in Germany rte.ie - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rte.ie Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Das Ausmaß der Zerstörung wird erst langsam deutlich
Hochwasserkatastrophe in Deutschland Das Ausmaß der Zerstörung wird erst langsam deutlich 17.07.2021, 21:50 Uhr |
dpa, pdi
Flutkatastrophe: So ist die Lage in den betroffenen Gebieten
Erftstadt, Wassenberg, Ahrweiler: Die Bilder aus Nordrhein-Westfalen und Rheinland-Pfalz bleiben dramatisch. Vielerorts wird weiter nach Flutopfern gesucht. (Quelle: t-online)
Flutkatastrophe: So dramatisch ist die Lage in den besonders betroffenen Gebieten. (Quelle: t-online) Redaktion
Während die Zahl der Toten nach den verheerenden Fluten steigt, versuchen sich die Menschen in den betroffenen Regionen ein Bild von der Katastrophe zu machen. Die Schäden sind jenseits jeder Vorstellungskraft.
Foto-Serie mit 46 Bildern
Published July 18, 2021, 7:39 AM
BERLIN, Germany – Chancellor Angela Merkel will visit flood-ravaged western Germany on Sunday, where the worst rainfall in living memory has caused huge destruction and left more than 130 people dead, regional officials said.
Merkel will travel to the hard-hit town of Schuld in Rhineland-Palatinate state, a spokeswoman for the regional interior ministry told AFP on Saturday, confirming earlier media reports.
The visit is set to take place in the afternoon, the spokeswoman said.
Merkel has called the flooding a national “tragedy” and promised support from the federal government to help the affected areas rebuild and recover.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier toured the town of Erftstadt in the western state of North-Rhine Westphalia on Saturday, to survey the damage from a massive landslide caused by the extreme weather.