No running water, no electricity: after the devastating floods in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia, the victims of the flood disaster have to struggle with the partly completely disturbed infrastructure. They are supported by the Technical Relief Organization (THW) – but lateral thinkers attack the emergency services.
© Harald Title / dpa
THW employees are being attacked in the flood areas in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate – primarily from the “lateral thinker” scene.
Kassel – There are scenes that sound unimaginable: Rescue workers from the Technical Relief Organization (THW) currently have to fight not only with mud and rubble, but also with attacks and insults in the flood areas. “If you are on the road with emergency vehicles, you are thrown with garbage,” said THW Vice President Sabine Lackner in the RTL / ntv program “Frühstart” on Saturday.
“It goes so far that our helpers are insulted”. At some locations, THW employees were filmed in action who did not identify themselves as representatives of the press.
More flood news * can be found here.
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For protection, THW emergency services had partly removed their name badges, said Lackner RTL / ntv on. “That is very, very regrettable and is a burden on our emergency services.” So far, the helpers have not canceled any operations due to the incidents. “I am infinitely grateful to our emergency services that they are going on quite boldly,” Lackner told the Süddeutsche Zeitung. Mentally, however, the situation for the many volunteers in the flood areas is extremely stressful.
Flood disaster in Germany: lateral thinkers attack THW emergency services
A few frustrated flood victims were behind the attacks, but mainly people from the lateral thinker and the so-called prepper scene, who pretended to be affected and consciously created mood, lamented Lackner to the press agency AFP. Preppers are people who equip themselves with all sorts of supplies and equipment for any disaster.
Video: THW sees little chance for missing people after a flood disaster
The number of deaths is currently given as at least 170. From Rhineland-Palatinate, 122 and from North Rhine-Westphalia 48 deaths from severe weather were confirmed by Tuesday (July 20, 2021). But numerous people are still missing – in the particularly affected district of Ahrweiler in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate alone, around 155 people are currently being searched for.
After a flood disaster: THW prepares for a long operation
The search for the missing is also part of the THW’s task: “We are currently still looking for missing persons, for example when clearing the paths or pumping out the cellars,” said Lackner to the editorial network Germany (RND). “At this point, however, it is unfortunately very likely that you can only rescue victims, not save them.”
According to the THW Vice President, around 30,000 people in the flood areas currently have no drinking water, no electricity or even have to do without both. The THW is preparing for a longer mission. “We are currently assuming that we will be there for a few more weeks.”
Fraudsters are also currently causing trouble in the flood areas: Fake electricians try to rip off flood victims with horrific bills. A video from the flood area also caused a stir: you can see an RTL reporter who deliberately smeared herself with mud before filming. (you with AFP) * hna.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
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