The western part of Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg have in recent days been hit by extreme floods, which have led to enormous damage to houses, vehicles and infrastructure.
Friday night, at least 129 people were confirmed dead. Over 1300 have not been accounted for, and the death toll is expected to rise. In many cities, the devastation is enormous, and according to Reuters, the natural disaster is the deadliest in Germany since a flood in 1962 when 340 people lost their lives.
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Evacuate
On Saturday night, the news came that a dam had burst along the river Rur in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Thus, 700 people from the city of Wassenberg are evacuated, reports CNN.
HUGE DESTRUCTIONS: The damage is enormous after the flood. Here from the city of Schuld in Germany on Friday. Photo: AP Photo / Michael Probst
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German authorities believe that even the deadly extreme weather can be linked to climate change.
– Climate change has come to Germany. This shows the extent of the consequences of climate change for all of us, and how important it is to prepare even better for such weather events in the future, wrote the country’s Minister of the Environment, Svenja Schulze, on Twitter Thursday.
– Unparalleled disaster
Climate criticism
However, the German climate activist Luisa-Marie Neubauer (25) believes that many are very frustrated with how the authorities only offer support in the short term, but do not do enough for the climate in the long term.
“The authorities are willing to support those who need help after floods in the short term, but long-term measures, which can effectively prevent climate change, are not discussed,” Neubauer said. Sky News.
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The 25-year-old became known in 2019 as one of the organizers behind the global climate strikes that Swedish Greta Thunberg started.
Germany has ratified the global Paris agreement, which involves cutting climate emissions in an attempt to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But Neubauer believes the rhetoric is not followed up with action.
– It is almost hypocritical, says the climate activist.
The devastation in the flood-hit areas is almost inconceivable, according to eyewitnesses.
Will move
The village of Pepinster in Belgium has been completely destroyed. Cars are tossed around. The railway tracks are damaged. The water is still raging through factories and in the streets. In the air above are rescue helicopters and scouts for survivors who need help, writes Sky News.
– Never before seen such a disaster
– I think it must be the consequences of climate change. It’s just inexplicable, says one of the residents. We have experienced heavy rain before, but never like this. We want to move. We want to go. We do not want to stay here, Miriam Darraji, for the TV channel while the family watches the ruins of what was their home.
A fish farmer in the German town of Schuld, Achim Hueck, tells Reuters about how barely escaped the rapidly rising water masses.
– It rose really fast. It started from the path back here. There were many ponds that suddenly rose. Cabins, toilet facilities. Everything is gone, he says, pointing to the ruins of his business.
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