EUR 200 million, just over two billion Swedish kronor, has been paid out by the German government in an initial stage for emergency aid in the affected areas.
An additional 250 million euros, just over two and a half billion kronor, will be paid for the clearing and repair work.
A welcome addition for the German residents in the cluttered areas.
- The next big problem will be the huge piles of household waste.
It stinks everywhere and people do not know what to do with it, says Hans-Peter Bleken from Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler.
See the devastation and the big rubbish heaps along the streets in the clip above.