Germany and Belgium Epicenter of Historic Flooding

Posted: July 17, 2021 10:57 am

Over 100 Fatalities Reported in Europe Due to Rising Floodwaters

Over 125 people are dead in central and western Europe due to raging floodwaters that will not let up.

Germany and Belgium Taking it the Worst: Germany and Belgium are taking it the worst as heavy and persistent rainfall has sent riverbanks overflowing. The flooding has washed away dozens of homes and roadways. In addition to the confirmed fatalities, there are hundreds of people missing and unaccounted for. Authorities fear that the death toll is going to continue to mount as the floodwaters begin to recede and reveal the true damage.

The North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate regions of Germany have reported at least 106 deaths. 12 of these fatalities were residents of an assisted living facility for the disabled. The residents were trapped and not able to escape the rising floodwaters, creating a devastating catastrophe.

Up to 70 People Missing in German Village as Rescuers Fight Against Time: The German village of Schuld is reporting up to 70 missing residents. Located southwest of Cologne, the village was the site of multiple home collapses on Wednesday night.

According to the German Federal Minister of Defense, the military has moved the disaster relief efforts to the top of their priority list. Over 700 soldiers have been sent to rescue stranded residents. Many people had to retreat to the rooftops of their homes to escape the rising water. Rescuers used helicopters and boats to try to pluck the stranded out of harm’s way. The military also brought in tanks to remove debris and fallen trees.

In addition to the rescue efforts in the region near Cologne, authorities in Hagan and Dusseldorf also had to mobilize firefighters and other rescuers to help motorists escape their vehicles as the waters rose to the top of these cars. In Dusseldorf, the major A44 tunnel was flooded, stranding motorists and causing massive travel delays.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been in the US this week meeting with President Joe Biden. Both leaders sent their thoughts to the victims during a joint press conference on Thursday at the White House.

Other Countries Affected: Germany was not the only country affected by the floodwaters. The Czech Republic also had to deal with raging waters after rain stalled over the region. Hof County experienced the worst of the flooding with a disaster alert being called on Tuesday night. The rain flooded basements, cut off power, and sent trees toppling.

In Belgium, the Vesdre River crested its banks after heavy rainfall throughout Tuesday and Wednesday. The burst of water flooded into the town of Pepinster, causing numerous buildings in its path to collapse. At least 20 people are dead in Belgium as a result of the flooding with an additional 19 missing.

Travel has effectively come to a halt in Belgium as the country’s major highways are underwater. Railway service was also stopped after a train derailed in Belgian Ardennes when a part of the track was swept away by the water.

The Netherlands and Luxembourg are also dealing with the historic flooding. The town of Echternach in Luxembourg was put under evacuation orders on Thursday as the water encroached.

Looking Ahead: The good news is that the forecast is calling for drier conditions heading into the weekend and early next week. High pressure will build over the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and through western Germany. This dry weather pattern is forecast to hang around through next week

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