Schuld, Germany: Chancellor Angela Merkel is to visit flooded areas in Germany on Sunday to survey damage and meet safely, after days of rain far in Western Europe left at least 183 people who died and dozens.
Merkel is scheduled to travel to the village of Schuld in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, one of the two hardest hit in West Germany, where the AHR River which swirled sweeping houses and left debris piled high on the streets.
At least 156 people have died since Wednesday in the worst flood in Germany in live memory, police said.
In the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, the police reported 110 dead and 670 injured.
At least 27 people also lost their lives in the nearby Belgium.
The rescue crew in both countries filtered debris to find victims and victims, often in dangerous conditions.
Historical rain also battered, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
When the waters began to recede in the Rhineland-Palatinate and North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW), the concern shifted south to the Bavarian region over Germany, where heavy rain was made from rivers and LED rivers on Saturdays to collapse banks their bank.
One person died in Berchtesgadener’s land, Bavarian District spokesman told AFP.
And in the eastern state of Saxony, the authorities reported “significant risk situation” in several villages near the Czech border.
In Austria, emergency workers in the Salzburg and Tyrol regions are wary of flooding.
Historal downtown Hallein, near the German border, is under water.
Merkel said the flood of “tragedy” and promised support from the federal government for the German-hit city.
Speaking with US President Joe Biden in the White House on Thursday, Merkel said he was “hearts to him to all those who in this disaster lost their loved ones”.
His finance minister, Olaf Scholz, promised more than 300 million euros ($ 354 million) in emergency assistance for people who lost home and business, with a cabinet to discuss a much larger reconstruction package on Wednesday.
Disasters have increased in the nuances of politics in Germany, which heads to elections on September 26 for general elections which will mark the late 16 years in power in Merkel.
With experts say climate change makes extreme weather events like this more likely, candidates are competing to succeed, veteran leaders call for more climate action.
Armin Laschet, Premier from the northern state of North North Westphalia (NRW) and Frontrunner in a race for Chancellor, said efforts to overcome global warming must be “accelerated”.
But Laschet, who heads CDU Merkel’s party currently leads to the poll, scoring itself on Saturday when he was filmed laughing in the destroyed Erfthstadt city in NRW, where landslides were triggered by floods.
In that tape, Laschet can be seen chatting and joking in the background as President Frank-Walter Steinmeier provides a statement that expresses sympathy to mourning families.
“Laschet laughed while the country cried,” Bild’s best-selling Bild.
Laschet then apologized on Twitter for “inappropriate” moments.
The scale of the flood impact gradually becomes clear in Germany, with damaged buildings assessed, some of which must be destroyed, and efforts are running to recover gas, electricity and telephone services.
In some areas, soldiers use armored vehicles to clear the streets of debris.
In NRW, divers are sent to find submerged homes and vehicles.
Local authorities in NRW and Rhineland-Palatinate said dozens of people remained countless in both countries.
However, they have emphasized that interference with communication networks makes the right assessment difficult, and the actual number is lost can be lower.
Roger Lewentz, the Minister of Home Affairs for Rhineland-Palatinate, said more than 670 people were injured.
“I’ve lived here for the rest of my life, I was born here, and I have never seen anything you like,” Gregor Degen said, a baker in the spa city was destroyed from Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, near Schuld.
Across the border in Belgium, the death toll jumped to 27 with many people still missing.
The President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo visited Rochefort and Pepinster flood areas together on Saturday.
“Europe with you,” Von Der Leyen Tweeting afterwards.
“We are with you mourning and we will be with you in rebuilding.” Belgium has stated Tuesday’s day of official sorrow.