Moroccan migrant Azeddine Kharchouch did not expect to become a topic of media discussion after rescuing an elderly woman whose home was flooded in Belgium due to the devastating floods that hit several countries in Western Europe, and subsequently extended to others in Eastern Europe. Social media users widely shared a video showing the moment a young Moroccan intervened to save a Belgian woman who had been stuck in her inundated home for several hours.
With the help of his brother and family members, Azeddine Kharchouch was able to save the woman from certain death, rescuing her from the ground floor of a building in the city of Ververis in eastern Belgium, which had been engulfed by the floods. In what seemed like an impossible task, Kharchouch broke down one of the walls of the lady's home while another young man climbed the façade of the building to enter her apartment. Together, they managed to bring her out and hand her over to the rescue teams that took care of her medical needs.
The young Moroccan, whose fame has spread beyond his town of Ververis, recounted, "The water was cold and I was suffering from an old wrist injury. I felt severe pain while breaking the wall but I pushed through. The goal was to reach the lady and bring her to safety." Kharchouch recalled, in a statement to the Belgian channel "RTBF," the initial moments of direct contact with the woman through the hole made in the wall, saying: "I was trying to calm her down while she was happy, as if the sun had shone on her again."
Ayyub, Kharchouch’s brother who also helped in the rescue operation, noted that the woman appeared exhausted and tired, adding: "We intervened in time, and we do not know what would have happened if we hadn't acted to get her out of the house."
The video documenting the rescue operation was met with widespread online engagement, garnering many likes and shares. Users praised the heroic efforts of the young Moroccan and his family members to save the life of the elderly woman trapped by the floodwaters.
The death toll from the "death floods" that swept through Germany and Belgium has risen to 183, while rescue teams continue searching for missing persons, with expectations of more casualties. Power remains out and phones are unavailable in several regions affected by the destructive floods.
Germany has been the most affected country in Europe by the unprecedented floods in decades, recording 156 fatalities alone, with record rainfall levels destroying numerous roads, public transport networks, and causing extensive damage to infrastructure. German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged during a visit to the flood-affected areas in the west of the country on Sunday to provide urgent support and assistance to those affected, emphasizing the need to expedite efforts in combating climate change.
