- Title: Rebuilding cost in Germany to exceed that of previous floods - Merkel
- Date: 20th July 2021
- Summary: BAD MUENSTEREIFEL, GERMANY (JULY 20, 2021) (REUTERS) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL LISTENING VARIOUS OF MERKEL AND NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA PREMIER ARMIN LASCHET AT FOOD DISTRIBUTION STAND ONLOOKERS
- Embargoed: 3rd August 2021 13:58
- Keywords: Ueberschwemmung Versorgunszentrum floods relief supply centre
- Location: BAD MUENSTEREIFEL, GERMANY
- City: BAD MUENSTEREIFEL, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Europe,Floods
- Reuters ID: LVA001EMNBJUV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS WHITE FLASHES
The cost of rebuilding infrastructure following floods in western Germany last week will be much higher than that after previous floods, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday (July 20).
Merkel said the government would discuss using cell broadcast flood warning systems in the future, responding to criticism that people in flood-hit areas were not sufficiently warned of the danger.
Merkel and North Rhine-Westphalia premier and CDU chancellor candidate, Armin Laschet, travelled to Germany's flood zone for the second time on Tuesday (July 20) and visited the flood-ridden towns of Iversheim and Bad Muenstreifen.
The heavy floods and mudslides killed more than 160 people in Germany, tearing through villages, sweeping away houses, roads and bridges and highlighting gaps in how warnings of severe weather are passed on to the public.
With the country about 10 weeks away from national elections, the floods have put the crisis management skills of Germany's leaders on the agenda, with opposition politicians suggesting the death toll revealed serious failings in flood preparedness.
For immediate relief, the federal government plans to provide 200 million euros ($236 million) in emergency aid to repair buildings and damaged local infrastructure, and to help people in crisis situations, a draft document, due to go to cabinet on Wednesday, showed.
That will come on top of 200 million euros that would come from the 16 federal states. The government also hopes for financial support from the European Union's solidarity fund.
(Production: Max Schwarz, Sergeiy Karazy, Ute Swart) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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