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After deadly floods hit Western Europe, 1,300 people are presumed missing in one German district

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After deadly floods hit Western Europe, 1,300 people are presumed missing in one German district
After deadly floods hit Western Europe, 1,300 people are presumed missing in one German district

Around 1,300 people are still missing in Germany after the biggest rainfall in a century wreaked havoc on portions of Western Europe, sparking a massive rescue operation.

According to authorities, fast-moving torrents of water overwhelmed entire towns and villages in western and southern Germany, forcing structures to collapse and stranding individuals. At least 55 people have perished as a result of the heavy flooding, but authorities expect the figure to grow.

Germany has been hit the hardest, with 49 people killed, while Belgium has lost six people. The Netherlands and Luxembourg are also affected.

According to the local authorities in Germany’s worst-affected Rhineland-Palatinate state, 1,300 persons are “assumed” missing in the Ahrweiler district.

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Flooding in Germany has killed nearly 60 people, with scores more missing in just one area, as chancellor Angela Merkel voiced her great sorrow for the victims of a “catastrophe” whose full scope will only be known in the coming days.

Authorities in the western German district of Ahrweiler stated on Thursday night that the death toll was anticipated to rise, and that they were attempting to locate approximately 1,300 individuals who had gone missing, despite the high number being owing to damaged mobile phone networks.

“It’s likely that the number of victims will continue to rise in the next days,” he continued.

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On Thursday alone, more than 1,000 rescue missions were carried out in the town of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, with some still ongoing.

More than 1,000 emergency professionals from across Rhineland-Palatinate as well as the neighbouring states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg were on hand to assist the district. Officials from Ahrweiler said it was too early to estimate the extent of the damage.

According to Belgian media, the dead toll has risen to at least 11.

Rain is expected to continue in portions of the west, where water levels in the Rhine and its tributaries are dangerously high. Fears of a dam failure prompted authorities in the Rhine-Sieg county of North Rhine-Westphalia to order the evacuation of several settlements below the Steinbach reservoir.

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Merkel described the day as “characterised by terror, despair, and agony, and hundreds of thousands of people were suddenly confronted with calamity” when speaking at the White House during a trip to Washington.

Merkel stated that her administration would not leave those impacted “alone with their suffering,” and that it would do “all possible” to assist them in their distress.

Following bilateral talks, US President Joe Biden stood at her side for a press conference, calling the flooding a tragedy.

“I want to extend my deepest sympathies to you and the people of Germany, as well as the condolences of the American people, for the awful loss of life and destruction caused by the flooding in Germany and neighbouring nations over the past 24 hours,” Biden stated.

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A slow-moving low pressure system has flooded four nations, forcing rivers to breach their banks and flooding streets in cities and towns, as well as knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of people.

As rescue helicopters circled above, frightened citizens in Germany sought cover on the roofs of their homes. After numerous houses in the Eifel highlands village of Schuld collapsed overnight, 70 people were reported missing.

After many settlements were cut off by flood water and landslides that rendered roads unusable, the entire scope of the damage in the region is yet unknown. Cars floated down streets and residences partially collapsed in videos shared on social media.

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Pope Francis extended condolences, saying the pontiff was praying for those injured and missing, as well as those who have lost their livelihoods, according to his office.