cAbout 30 people are missing in the city of Adenau, Germany, after several houses collapsed overnight due to the force of the water, which has already killed at least six people, including two firefighters.
Municipal authorities in Ahrwaler, in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate, in the southwest of the country, have confirmed that four people have been killed and 30 have disappeared.
Two firefighters were also killed in the rescue effort.
“there [ainda] “An unconfirmed number of people are on the roofs and in need of rescue,” a Koblenz police spokesman told Reuters.
The same source added that several rescue teams have been deployed to the site, including air assets. At least six buildings in Ahrweiler collapsed due to rain, further affecting the stability of another 20, according to local authorities.
Rail, road and river transport ceased after navigation on the Rhine stopped.
Yesterday, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert described the images of the areas most affected by the floods as “appalling”.
“Although not all events, and not all local floods or accidents are linked to climate change, many scientists tell us that the frequency, intensity, and regularity of these occurrences is a consequence of climate change,” Seibert said.
Europe floods
And in the neighboring Czech Republic, firefighters received 800 calls on Wednesday about incidents ranging from falling trees to flooding basements. Partially flooded a motorway linking the capital, Prague, to the east of the country. Thousands of families are now left without electricity.
In some cities in eastern Belgium, houses were covered with mud. Dutch authorities have warned that torrential rains in the southern province of Limburg could turn waterways into dangerously fast torrents. Boat owners have been advised to stay away from the River Maas due to the strong currents and wreckage.
In Switzerland, authorities raised the flood warning for Lake Lucerne to the highest level and banned all shipping.
Today, the French Meteorological Authority issued warnings for five regions in the northeastern part of the country. Much of France experienced an unusually cold and wet summer, while parts of southeastern Europe were experiencing a heat wave.
Read also: Storms in Europe. There are many missing persons in a German site
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