At least 21 dead and dozens missing in storms and flooding in Germany and Belgium

At least 21 people have died and dozens are still missing due to the heavy storms and torrential rains that have hit western Germany and Belgium in recent hours following heavy rains that caused serious disruption in some provinces, including road closures and disruption of rail transportation.

Heavy downpours which lasted for hours caused a dramatic situation in the countries, where there are flooded populations, blocked roads and a dam of a dam which had to be reinforced due to the risk of rupture due to the pressure some water.

In Germany, the storm mainly affected the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous in the country, and Rhineland-Palatinate.

Municipal authorities in Ahrweiler, in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate, have confirmed the deaths of four people and the disappearance of 30 others. Two firefighters working on rescue missions were also killed.

In this municipality, the rains have caused the collapse of at least six buildings, while about 20 others are in an unstable state.

In the town of Hagen, in the streets of which the water reaches the hips, according to witnesses, the electricity service was interrupted in a preventive way to avoid short circuits.

The Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia and candidate for Angela Merkel’s successor to the Chancellery, Armin Laschet, will visit Hagen today.

In this city, a retirement home had to be evacuated after the first floor flooded.

In Düsseldorf, the Grafenberg district had to be evacuated and a motorway was blocked after a tunnel flooded. Rail transport in the region has also been affected.

In Cologne, the Rhine overflowed and flooded part of the Deutz district.

North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul called the situation “extremely difficult”.

Since Tuesday, there has been a rescue team device in which 3,900 people participated, who had to intervene in different places about 2,000 times.

For its part in Belgium, the most affected area is the Walloon region, and in particular the provinces of Liège (east of the country) and Luxembourg (south). Two of the deaths took place in the towns of Eupen and Aywaille, both in Liège, as confirmed by local authorities, Le Soir reported.

The Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium has put Cork in code red. The water-covered sections of several major highways and rail traffic in southern and eastern Belgium have been paralyzed. The rail service said it was “very unlikely” to find alternative transportation.

In Spa (Liège), a national tourist destination known for its hot springs, the city center is totally inundated, as is Rochefort, in Namur, while a dozen houses were lost in Pepinster (Liège).

The inhabitants of various Walloon towns had to be evacuated, as well as hundreds of young people who were in summer camps.

The Belgian authorities have asked the population of the most affected areas, in particular Liège and the province of Luxembourg in the south, be very careful and avoid any non-essential movement.

Also in Luxembourg, the rains caused serious disturbances which were assessed this morning during a meeting of the country’s crisis unit.

Although the weather situation has calmed down in the last few hours, this The risk of rising sea levels persists on Thursday, reported the Luxembourg Ministry of the Interior in a press release, that recommends that the population be “vigilant” and avoid exposing themselves to dangers.

Heavier-than-normal precipitation also caused flooding in northeastern France this week.

Some regions received the equivalent of two months of rain in one or two days, according to the French meteorological service. With the land already saturated, the agency expected more showers on Thursday and activated flood warnings in 10 regions.

(with information from EFE and AP)

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