Germany-Belgium floods: Merkel says German language doesn’t have words for ‘surreal’ destruction

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Angela Merkel visits flood-hit area in Germany

The death toll across Germany and Belgium topped 180 on Sunday after rescue workers dug deeper into debris left by receding waters.

Some 155 people have been confirmed dead in Germany while 27 have died in Belgium.

After a visit to the flood-ravaged Rhineland-Palatinate region on Sunday, Chancellor Angela Merkel called the floods “terrifying” and pledged short-term relief to the victims, which she said would be launched on Wednesday.

“It is shocking - I can almost say that the German language doesn’t have words for the destruction that’s been wreaked,” she said.

Germany’s finance minister Olaf Scholz has said that officials must begin setting up a rebuilding programme which is likely to cost billions.

He said he would propose a package of immediate aid, totalling at least 300 million euros (£257 million), at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Some 65 people were evacuated from their homes in Germany‘s Berchtesgaden area after the Ache River swelled. At least one person was killed.

The floods have begun to spill over into Austria, where a flash flood swept through the town of Hallein late Saturday, although no casualties have been reported.

The military has been deployed to help aid the search and rescue mission and was seen using armoured vehicles to clear away cars and trucks overwhelmed by the floodwaters in Erftstadt, a town southwest of Cologne where the ground in a neighbourhood gave way.

Key Points

• Death toll surpasses 180
• Angela Merkel to visit devastated region
• Floods spill over into Austria
• At least 300 million euros to be proposed for immediate aid
• Election candidate apologises for laughing gaffe during flood visit
• Link between extreme weather and global warming is unmistakable, climate scientists say

[18 July 2021 17:12 · Ella Glover]

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The Independent is wrapping up its live coverage of the Germany-Belgium floods for tonight. Come back tomorrow for live updates on the crisis.