Outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte traveled to Venlo and Roermond on Friday evening to examine the damage in the south. On Thursday, the cabinet recognized the major flooding in the province as a national disaster.
–
The outgoing prime minister had a briefing on Friday evening in Roermond about the flooding and evacuations in and around the city.
Safe
He did this during a visit to aid workers and residents at the mouth of the Roer in the Maas. A resident spoke to him and said she was afraid of the Maas. She pointed to the closed sluice gate, which should prevent the higher Maas from flowing into the Roer. Rutte asked if she feels safe, but she replied that she felt insecure because people receive little or no information.
stir
An employee of the Limburg Water Board then explained to Rutte that the Roer is closed on both sides to prevent further rise in the city center. The water of the Roer is diverted via the Hambeek, a branch of the Roer. Because the Hambeek cannot get rid of the water in the swelling Meuse, the stream overflows an area with 550 homes. Its residents were evacuated early Friday morning.
Remkes
Rutte also spoke with some enforcers and firefighters. He had previously visited the town hall, where he spoke to Limburg governor Johan Remkes and mayor Rianne Donders, among others. On the way from the town hall to the Roerkade, he was accosted by Roermond residents who wanted to take a picture with him. He took the time to do this and put his thumbs up here and there to encourage people. Some applauded, a few called him ‘disaster tourist’.
After his visit to the Roerkade, Rutte went to the Jo Gerrishal in Maasniel, where the evacuated residents are received.
On Thursday evening, Rutte expressed his condolences. “It is terrible what is happening to them at the moment. It is completely clear that the situation in Limburg is disastrous.” The situation in Limburg has been declared a disaster as described in Article 1 of the Security Regions Act.
Disaster scenario
On Thursday evening, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima visited the ravaged center of Valkenburg. State Secretary Stientje van Veldhoven also came to the area to show support. A day later, the visit of outgoing Prime Minister Rutte follows.
Not to the area
During the press conference, the Prime Minister emphatically called for not to come to the affected area, so that repair workers do not get in the way.
