Germany, flood devastates two regions: at least 58 dead and dozens missing. Merkel: “Catastrophe”. The minister: “Blame for climate change”

At least 58 dead, and dozens of missing people. The number of victims of the flood that devastated the west of the country continues to rise Germany, destroying houses e dragging cars into the water. Heavy rains and floods affected two landers in particular, the Norderno-Vestfalia and the Rhineland-Palatinate. And only in the latter region, according to the interior minister, Roger Lewentz (Spd), are counted among the 50 and 70 people missing. At least 200 thousand were left without electricity.

A “catastrophe“, As the Chancellor twice defined it Angela Merkel, today in Washington, due, according to the president of the land of North Rhine-Westphalia and candidate of the CDU for the chancellery, Armin Laschet, and the Minister of the Environment, Svenja Schulze, ai climate changes. The accumulation of heavy rains, Laschet told the German media, suggests that it is “necessary to speed up on climate protection measures”. “Climate change has arrived in Germany“, The minister tweeted instead. “The events – he added – show the force with which the consequences of climate change can affect us all and how important it is to prepare even better for such extreme weather events in the future”. In the same vein, the comment of the Minister of the Interior, who is also convinced that the floods of these hours are “the consequence of climate change” for which we need to prepare better.

Angela Merkel, after expressing condolences for the victims and closeness to the family, spoke in a statement underlining that “speaking of heavy rain and flooding, describes the situation in an insufficient way. It is truly a catastrophe ”. The Chancellor said she was “shocked by the news that reaches me”, speaking of “places submerged by water”, but without giving a precise number of victims. “I express my pain. We don’t have the numbers yet, but they will be many“, He said, specifying that“ everything possible will be done to find the missing ”. The Chancellor then thanked the rescuers for their “tireless work”. “We know that in part it is also very very dangerous what they are doing”. Among the victims of the flood, in fact, also two firefighters who died while providing help.

A disaster for which the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, he wanted to send his message of closeness to the German pool: “With deep sadness I follow the very serious news that comes in these hours – in particular – from North Rhine-Westphalia and from Rhineland-Palatinate. The whole of Italy clings in pain to the friend of the German people with feelings of shared condolence for this catastrophe. Our affectionate thoughts and our solidarity go out to the families of the numerous victims and missing persons. In this mournful circumstance, Mr. President and dear friend, the most sincere condolences of the Italian Republic and my personal ones reach you ”.

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Particularly affected is the district of Bad Neuenahr Ahrweiler in Rhineland-Palatinate, where 18 victims were recorded. While the Cologne police speak of 20 dead in the area south of the Westphalian city, in Euskirchen. Hundreds, on the other hand, were rescued thanks to the help of some boats in the Kordel area, one of the centers most affected by the flood. In this area, according to the picture, there would be no deaths or missing. At the moment, i rail links have been suspended in much of North Rhine-Westphalia, one of the most populous areas in the country. The German Meteorological Service has predicted that rainfall will subside over the course of the day.

Germany is not the only country hit by the very violent storm. Also in the Belgium eastern heavy rains caused victims: 5 people who died. The floods affected in particular the province of Liège, Wallonia, but also some areas of Flanders. Four bodies of the victims were found in Verviers, a city very close to the border with Germany. The Meuse river came out of the banks in Namur, about sixty kilometers south of Brussels, and in Liège, the authorities asked the population to leave their homes near the river.

To cope with what has been defined “The worst bad weather of the last 300 years”, the Dutch authorities have decided to deploy the army in the south of the country. Also from the border area with the Netherlandsin fact, in the southeastern province of Limburg, dozens of people have been forced to flee their homes and seek shelter in hotels and sports centers. The military’s job is to help people get to safety after the closure of several roads and highways due to flooding. At least six houses have collapsed and another 25 are at risk.

Solidarity came immediately from the European institutions. “My thoughts go out to the families of the victims of the devastating floods in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands and to those who have lost their homes. L’European Union is ready to help“. The president of the European Commission wrote on Twitter Ursula von der Leyen, sottolineando che “The countries concerned may have recourse to the EU civil protection mechanism”. Thought also shared by the president of the European Parliament, David Sassoli.

My thoughts are with the families of the victims of the devastating floods in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands and with those who have lost their homes.

The EU is ready to help.

Affected countries can call on the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

– Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 15, 2021

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