The western part of Germany has been hit by heavy rainfall since the beginning of the week, causing several local rivers to overflow their banks, causing severe flooding.

The natural disaster struck the most powerful blow on the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.

According to the latest media reports, the number of victims during floods in the western lands of Germany has increased to 100. 

Earlier, the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Bonn reported, citing official data, that more than 1,300 people were reported missing in the western lands of Germany.

"The Consulate General continues to maintain contact with the German law enforcement and rescue services," the diplomats said.

Also in the district of Rhine-Erft on the territory of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate declared a state of emergency.

“The rains have caused severe flooding in many places.

Now it is impossible to exclude flooding along the Erft River, which already has a huge impact on the urban areas of Erftstadt, and may also affect the urban areas of Kerpen, Bergheim and Bedburg in the short term, ”the statement reads, quoted by RIA Novosti.

In addition, Ahrweiler County officials said they did not have the location of approximately 1,300 local residents.

“At present, we proceed from the assumption that there are about 1.3 thousand missing.

In the region of the district town of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler alone, there were about a thousand calls in the morning, and rescue operations are ongoing.

In view of the difficult situation, final conclusions regarding the situation are currently impossible, "the text of the TASS message quoted.

It is also known that in the commune of Schuld, flooding destroyed six houses and several bridges after overflowing the banks of the Ahr River, a tributary of the Rhine.

At the same time, the Irrel commune was completely flooded, the basement floors of buildings were under water.

Local authorities distributed sandbags to residents to prevent further flooding of buildings.

As reported by InoTV, due to flooding in the vicinity of Trier, access roads to local settlements were blocked, and infrastructure in Eifel suffered "devastating damage".

According to data from E.ON, Germany's largest energy company, about 165,000 people are left without electricity in western Germany.

"This is truly a disaster."

On the eve, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called what happened in the western lands of the country a "catastrophe", stressing that she was shocked by reports from flooded settlements.

“This is truly a disaster, I am shocked by reports from flooded settlements, where people are sitting on the roofs of their houses, I hope they will be saved.

I grieve for those who lost their lives in this catastrophe, we do not know the number yet, but there will be many of them, ”Merkel said.

She also indicated that the authorities will focus all efforts on “saving lives, preventing threats and alleviating suffering” of those affected by the flood.

  • © REUTERS / Staff

Later, during a press conference following talks with US President Joe Biden, the German Chancellor emphasized that the scale of the consequences of the flood could be established in the coming days.

“I'm afraid we will be able to assess the full scale of the tragedy only in the following days,” Merkel said.

"We have floods often, but not so monstrous"

According to Malu Dreyer, Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, the current situation resembles the events of three years ago, when the region also faced flooding.

According to her, by this time it is already clear that the communes have suffered enormous damage.

"It's horrible.

Many localities were affected by the devastating floods in 2018.

Many of us, including those gathered in this room, will remember this flood.

We, of course, will continue to provide assistance in order to take control of the current acute situation, ”InoTV quotes her as saying

.

In turn, one of the local entrepreneurs indicated that he did not know what to do next, since the rampant elements destroyed everything.

  • Eyewitnesses about the revelry of the elements

“This is something incredible.

I have worked in the fire department for 50 years and have never seen anything like it.

I have seen a lot of things, I was at the scene of the events in the area of ​​the Nürburgring, I saw other similar situations.

But this has never happened.

Cars were rushing ... It's a nightmare, ”he explained in an interview with Ruptly.

The water arrived very quickly, residents recall.

"It was very scary.

At first we laughed, thought it would not be so scary, but then it became very scary.

We live on Bergstrasse.

There was more and more water.

Then we were told that we had to leave the house.

We still thought we wouldn't get hurt.

We moved everything we could from the first floor upstairs, ”added another resident of this settlement. 

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In addition, the neighboring territories of the Netherlands and Belgium also faced flooding.

Thus, the authorities of the Dutch city of Maastricht urged residents of two districts, about 10 thousand people, to leave their homes because of the expected exit from the banks of the Meuse River.

In turn, in Belgian Liege, residents of areas located next to the Meuse River were asked to evacuate.

At the same time, local media have already reported at least 12 dead and five missing.