Merkel on the flood situation: "My condolences go to the relatives of the dead and missing"

Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) was shocked to comment on the floods in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia and thanked the helpers.

"I am shocked by the disaster that so many people have to suffer in the flood areas," said Merkel, according to a tweet from government spokesman Steffen Seibert on Thursday.

“My condolences go out to the relatives of the dead and missing.

I thank the many tireless helpers and emergency services from the bottom of my heart. "

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

Merkel is currently on her last visit to the USA as Chancellor in Washington.

In the afternoon she wants to meet US President Joe Biden.

Merkel will no longer run for the Bundestag election in September.

"The federal government has to lend a hand"

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was also dismayed by the consequences of the devastating floods in many parts of Germany, with more and more deaths. "My deepest sympathy goes to the deceased and their relatives," Steinmeier said on Thursday. "In my thoughts I am with the many citizens who are in need, who have lost their belongings and some of them even their roof over their heads." Steinmeier also thanked all the emergency services and helpers, "who worked tirelessly in the Are committed, some of which risk their lives to stand by the people in this dangerous situation ”.

Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) interrupts his vacation because of the floods in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. On Thursday, the Federal Finance Minister and SPD candidate for Chancellor, together with the Rhineland-Palatinate Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (SPD), wanted to get an idea of ​​the situation in the disaster area, as the ministry in Berlin announced on request. "The people in the disaster area are in need, the damage is immense," explained Scholz. "The federal government has to lend a hand."

The Green Chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock is also returning prematurely from vacation.

"The destructive extent of the floods is staggering," said the party leader in a statement distributed on Thursday.

"My thoughts and sympathy go with the people who mourn relatives, worry about the missing and take care of the injured."

The Green leader praised the work of the rescue workers as an “unbelievable achievement”.

At the same time, Baerbock emphasized the importance of support from the federal and state governments: "The people who are standing in front of the ruins of their livelihoods because their belongings, their houses have simply been washed away, now have to be helped quickly and unbureaucratically."

Meanwhile, North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister and Union Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet has emphasized that he does not want to use his visit to the flood disaster areas for campaigning images. "That is not a question with which you want to create images," said the CDU politician in the city of Hagen, which was particularly affected by the storms. Laschet had stayed overnight in Hagen and in the morning, without being accompanied by the media, had a picture of the city of Altena, which was also affected by the heavy rain.

"This is too serious a situation," emphasized the CDU federal chairman. “The most important thing is to help now, and above all to give those who help to back up.” All party-political questions would have to take a back seat if such a crisis situation as in North Rhine-Westphalia arises, said Laschet, also with a view to the rejection of his participation in the CSU - State group retreat in Bavaria. "Every Prime Minister who takes his office seriously is with the local people at such a moment, regardless of the election campaign."

Laschet described the cooperation with the Bundeswehr as "very good". The Bundeswehr made sure that no district of Hagen was sealed off. "The Bundeswehr has cleared the way," Laschet said literally. The Union Chancellor candidate also thanked the "thousands of honorary and full-time helpers" for their commitment in the "flood disaster". The most important thing now is to give the helpers support. "That is the point of a visit to Hagen today, exemplarily for many other firefighters, Bundeswehr soldiers who are currently on duty."