At least 33 people died in Germany and dozens are missing Thursday following record rainfall that caused massive flooding and erosion, authorities in Western Europe said.
Several villages were in ruin after floods caused rivers to burst their banks. At least 18 people died, along with dozens missing in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate after a river overflowed and destroyed several houses, police said.
Around 70 people were reported missing in the village of Schuld after several homes reportedly collapsed from the rising waters.
An additional 15 people died in the Euskirchen region.
“I was totally surprised. I had thought that water would come in here one day, but nothing like this,” resident Michael Ahrend said.
“This isn’t a war — it’s simply nature hitting out. Finally, we should start paying attention to it,” the resident said.
Two men died in Belgium following torrential downpours, and a 15-year-old was missing after being swept by a rising river. As many as 46 people died from floods in Germany and Belgium.
Drone footage shows the extent of damage in western Germany after heavy rain triggered severe floods.
Dozens of people are still missing.
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel is visiting the United States for a meeting with President Joe Biden. A spokesman for her office offered the chancellor’s condolences to the families and victims.
“I am shocked by the disaster that so many people in the flood areas have to endure. My sympathies go out to the families of the dead and missing,” he tweeted.
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson also released a statement following the floods, calling the images “shocking” and extending his condolences to those affected.
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Luxembourg and the Netherlands are reportedly dealing with intense flooding. The European Union commenced the civil emergency response mechanism to aid affected areas by the floods, including Belgium, according to European Council President Charles Michel.
