In connection with the severe storms, at least eleven people died in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. At least four people died in the Ahrweiler district in the Eifel, as the FAZ police confirmed. In North Rhine-Westphalia, two firefighters were killed in action in Altena and Werdohl. In Cologne, two people were found dead in full cellars. Also in Solingen and in the Unna district, two men died in flooded cellars, and another death was reported from Rheinbach. The district of Ahrweiler, a good 50 kilometers south of Bonn, is particularly hard hit by the flood. The police could not provide the exact circumstances of the death of the four people. Accordingly, they were found in several places.On Thursday night, six houses had collapsed due to flooding and continuous rain. 25 more threaten to collapse.

The situation in the district is still confusing, said a police spokesman. A spokeswoman for the district administration in Ahrweiler has not yet been able to provide any precise information. What is certain is that the entire district is affected, several places should be cut off from the outside world.

According to the police, 70 people are still missing. The number had recently increased because acquaintances and friends turned to the authorities, said a police spokesman for the FAZ. The police could not provide any information about the actual number of missing persons. In Altenahr in the Ahrweiler district, residents fled to the roofs of their houses, and many still have to be rescued. In Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, a large part of the city center is flooded. The Ahrweiler district administration had announced a press conference. It is unclear whether and how it will take place, since the authority itself is affected by the flood.

Heavy rain caused floods, floods and power outages in many parts of North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. In many regions streets were flooded, cellars overflowed and rail and road traffic were disrupted. Belgium is also affected by the flood. According to the forecast by the German Weather Service (DWD), the extreme continuous rain should subside on Thursday night. But in many places the clean-up work should now begin.

The Rhineland-Palatinate Prime Minister Malu Dreyer has expressed her concern after the flood disaster in the Eifel. “The storm hit our country hard. I fear for everyone who is in danger, ”wrote the SPD politician on Twitter. Thank you to all the helpers and emergency services who tirelessly fought against the water masses with great commitment. North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) wants to visit the Ruhr area city of Hagen, which is particularly affected by flooding, this Thursday. In Rhineland-Palatinate, schools remain closed in the Vulkaneifel district and in the Kordel community in the Trier-Saarburg district.

Deep "Bernd" determines the weather in Germany with warm, humid air masses.

According to the DWD, it will remain changeable in the next few days with showers and thunderstorms, sometimes with heavy rain.

You can read all current developments on floods and storms in the live blog here.

People have to leave houses

In Hückeswagen in the Oberbergisches Kreis, the Bevertalsperre overflowed due to the heavy rainfall.

The water was currently running uncontrolled over the edge of the dam, said a spokesman for the control center on Thursday morning.

More than 1000 people had to leave their homes.

In North Rhine-Westphalia the dams of dams are under pressure.

Rail: Avoid NRW as far as possible

Deutsche Bahn advised all rail travelers to bypass North Rhine-Westphalia as far as possible. "Please postpone trips to and from NRW to the next few days if possible," it said in a message. On Wednesday, numerous railway lines were shut down. The railway reported, among other things, of delays and cancellations of trains between Cologne and Düsseldorf and between Cologne and Wuppertal. The routes between Cologne and Koblenz were not passable on either side of the Rhine. ICE trains between Frankfurt and Brussels only ran between Frankfurt and Cologne.

In Rhineland-Palatinate, the Vulkaneifel district declared a disaster after heavy rains and floods. "The situation is very serious, we have many flooded streets and towns that can no longer be reached," said District Administrator Julia Gieseking on Wednesday evening in Daun. The schools in the district should remain closed on Thursday. "I appeal to the population that everyone stay at home and protect themselves from the masses of water," said Gieseking.

The President of the Supervisory and Service Authority (ADD), Thomas Linnertz, said on Wednesday that he had rushed to the Vulkaneifel to get an overview. The situation is also difficult in neighboring districts due to heavy rain and floods. The fire and disaster control inspector of the Vulkaneifel district, Harald Schmitz, said there were such strong masses of water that “entire streams flow through places”. In Hillesheim part of the old people's home had been cleared. "We are assuming that the situation will last longer and that is why we have requested support." Apart from cuts, however, there have so far been no reports of major injuries to those affected.