The West German Broadcasting Corporation has admitted gaps in the coverage of the heavy rain catastrophe in North Rhine-Westphalia.
At the same time, however, the broadcaster pointed out that he himself had been affected by the storm.
The WDR responded to allegations in social networks and criticism from the media industry.
"We share the assessment that the WDR should have reported more extensively from Wuppertal, but the WDR studio there itself was so badly affected by the storm that it could no longer broadcast itself from 3 a.m.", said a WDR Spokeswoman in Cologne.
Night program was not interrupted
“The studios in Düsseldorf and Cologne took over in order to be able to inform the population in the Bergisches Land with regional news.
For this, WDR reporters who are out and about in Wuppertal provide the information.
The Wuppertal studio is currently being made live again with the help of alternative transmission channels. "
The WDR is criticized for its reporting from North Rhine-Westphalia's storm regions.
The largest ARD broadcaster did not interrupt its night program on television and on the main wave WDR2 despite the worsening situation in Wuppertal and other places on Thursday night.
Accusations increased in social networks.
The WDR announced for Thursday "special broadcasts on radio and television on the effects of the storm in North Rhine-Westphalia".