German Chancellor Angela Merkel inspected the damage caused by the "floods of the century" in Western Europe on Sunday, which have claimed at least 190 lives in Germany and Belgium, describing the extent of destruction as "beyond imagination." The Chancellor spent about an hour in the town of Schuld near Bonn, where the Ahr River overflowed, causing significant damage to the area. This region in Rhineland-Palatinate has been one of the hardest hit, with 112 of the 157 fatalities in Germany attributed to the floods. In Belgium, 31 lives have been lost according to the latest toll.
Merkel expressed her deep sympathy during discussions with local residents who have lost everything and promised government aid for reconstruction. She was visiting Washington when the disaster struck late Wednesday into Thursday. Shocked by the devastation, including damage to roads, bridges, homes, uprooted trees, and debris covered in mud, Merkel stated that "the German language may lack the words to describe the destruction that has occurred."
In a press conference, the Chancellor remarked that what happened "is beyond imagination and terrifying," vowing that "the federal government and the states would work together to repair the damage." Finance Minister Olaf Scholz pledged €300 million in emergency government assistance and announced a multi-billion euro reconstruction program.
As the floods recede in the hardest-hit regions, conditions are deteriorating in the south along the border with Austria. Flooding has been reported in this area due to heavy rains, resulting in one death on the German side of the border, according to local police. A "disaster plan" has been declared in the Berchtesgaden area, with hundreds of firefighters deployed. In Austria, the old town of Hallein has been inundated, and firefighters have been mobilized in the Salzburg and Tyrol regions.
On Saturday night, flooding was recorded in Saxony near the eastern border with the Czech Republic. Pope Francis expressed his "solidarity" with the countries in Europe affected by the floods. In Germany, rescue teams continue to search for missing persons using helicopters, boats, and specialist divers.
Hans Dieter Franken, a 65-year-old resident from Schuld, commented, "Trailers and cars have been swept away, trees uprooted, and homes destroyed. We have lived here for over twenty years and have never seen anything like this," likening the scene to "war." In the area surrounding Bonn in North Rhine-Westphalia, over 300 people remain unaccounted for.
On Sunday, the president of the German Association of Cities and Municipalities, Gerd Landsberg, called for updates to alert systems, expressing regret that "this disaster initially gave the impression of just heavy rainfall without warning of its severity."
The floods have taken on a political dimension just over two months before the federal elections, after which Angela Merkel will step down. Candidates are competing to propose ways to enhance efforts against climate change, which is considered by many experts to be a contributing factor to the floods. Merkel stated, "I am not saying that the floods are an example of climate change, but if we look at the damages in recent years, they are simply greater than before," calling for a "very large effort" and the acceleration of climate policies.
On Saturday, conservative candidate Armin Laschet, the leading contender to succeed Merkel, made a damaging gaffe, appearing in a video laughing during a state tribute event for the flood victims. The video quickly spread online, prompting national outrage that led Laschet to apologize for his "inappropriate" behavior.
Throughout the affected areas, firefighters, civil defense personnel, local officials, and military have begun the process of cleaning up and removing muddy debris that often blocks roads. In Belgium near Liège, the Galler chocolate factory has been affected, with production halted. Company spokeswoman Valérie Stevenato, inspecting the flooded site with a fragrant chocolate scent, noted, "The factory has been here since 1976. We have never experienced flooding like this in Vaux-Sous-Chevremont before."
