Regions in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Austria were hit hard.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday that she was horrified by the “surreal” devastation in the flood-ravaged region of German.
Merkel walked through the village of Schuld in Rhineland-Palatinate state, one of the two hardest-hit regions in western Germany. “It is a surreal, eerie situation,” she told reporters, as she pledged quick aid to rebuild. “It is shocking – I can almost say that the German language doesn’t have words for the destruction that’s been wreaked”, Merkel added.
The toll in Western Europe reached at least 184 people dead with dozens still missing, Euractic.com reports.
Swollen rivers caused by record rainfall across western Europe swept through towns and villages. Now new floods emerge on the big rivers of Europe.
Pope Francis expressed his “nearness” to the people of the stricken regions. “May the Lord welcome the deceased and comfort their loved ones, may he sustain the efforts of everyone who are helping those who have suffered serious damage,” he said Sunday.
