- Title: Merkel calls flooding a catastrophe, promises government help
- Date: 15th July 2021
- Summary: SCHULD, GERMANY (JULY 15, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DESTROYED VEHICLES DESTROYED HOUSE WITH GERMAN FLAG STREET BLOCKED BY DEBRIS VARIOUS OF DESTROYED HOUSES SIGN READING (GERMAN) "HIKING PARADISE SCHULD" VARIOUS OF RIVER WITH HIGH WATER VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING PAST DESTROYED BUILDINGS TRACTOR DRIVING IN STREET VARIOUS OF DEBRIS POLICE MEN LOOKING ON WATER FLOWING PEOPLE STANDING TOGETHER DESTROYED VILLAGE
- Embargoed: 29th July 2021 16:04
- Keywords: Floods Germany Merkel
- Location: WASHINGTON D. C., USA & SCHULD, GERMANY
- City: WASHINGTON D. C., USA & SCHULD, GERMANY
- Country: USA
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Floods,United States
- Reuters ID: LVA002ELYD7BB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the deadly flooding in her homeland a catastrophe on Thursday (July 15) and said she was working with the nation's finance and interior ministers to determine how the government can get help to those that need it.
Merkel, on a visit to Washington, told reporters that many countries have expressed solidarity and offered help. "Here in Washington, my thoughts are also always with the people in our homeland," she said.
At least 42 people have died in Germany and dozens were missing on Thursday as swollen rivers caused by record rainfall across western Europe swept through towns and villages, leaving cars upended, houses destroyed and people stranded on rooftops.
Eighteen people died and dozens were unaccounted for around the wine-growing region of Ahrweiler, in Rhineland-Palatinate state, police said, after the Ahr river that flows into the Rhine broke its banks and brought down half a dozen houses.
Another 15 people died in the Euskirchen region south of the city of Bonn, authorities said. People in region were asked to evacuate their homes.
Hundreds of soldiers and 2,500 relief workers were helping police with rescue efforts in Germany. Tanks were deployed to clear roads of landslides and fallen trees and helicopters winched those stranded on rooftops to safety.
Around 200,000 households lost power due to the floods.
(Production: Wolfgang Rattay, Andreas Buerger, Tilman Blashofer, Stephan Schepers) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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