Flood disaster: the number of missing people in Ahrweiler rises to 1,300 – further fatalities feared

Storms keep Germany in suspense. There are more and more deaths, and a number of people are missing. The situation on Friday morning. The news ticker on the floods in the Eifel.

Update from July 16, 6.55 a.m.: After the flood disaster in Rhineland-Palatinate, the number of deaths has risen to 50. “The fear is that there will be more,” said a spokesman for the Koblenz police headquarters on Thursday morning.

Update from July 16, 6:15 a.m.: After the severe flood disaster, 1,300 people are missing in the Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler district. The district administration announced on Thursday evening. A spokeswoman said the cellular network was paralyzed – and therefore there was no cell phone reception and many people could not be reached. “We hope that clears up,” she said of the high number. At the same time, the district announced that there were more fatalities. The spokeswoman did not want to name any numbers.

As before, over 1000 members of the fire brigade, police, federal armed forces, THW, DRK and other disaster control units from large parts of Rhineland-Palatinate, southern North Rhine-Westphalia and the neighboring Baden-Württemberg are in action. “Further emergency services, including medical and transport units as well as forces from the Bundeswehr, were requested.”

Intensive work is being done to restore the electricity, gas and water supplies. The THW, for example, is preparing the construction of drinking water treatment plants.

“Our country is in mourning”: Many missing people in the Eifel – dramatic missions into the evening

Update from July 15, 10:57 p.m.: According to previous knowledge, at least 58 people died in the two affected federal states of the Eifel after large areas of land in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate were hit by floods. However, there are still numerous missing persons, so that the emergency services have to reckon with finding more victims. At least there is hope that the floods will subside soon: In the coming hours and on Friday, the meteorological situation in the crisis regions should improve, according to the weather forecast.

8:16 p.m.: There are incredible pictures and scenes that take place on Thursday in the Eifel (and parts of North Rhine-Westphalia). What most people in Germany only knew from far away is suddenly very close. Well over 50 people die after floods and continuous rain. In Rhineland-Palatinate, dozens are still missing in the evening hours. “Our country mourns very much today. We have dead and injured. We pray for the victims and hope that as many missing people as possible can still be found alive, ”said Prime Minister Malu Dreyer to ARD .

According to the energy supplier Eon, around 165,000 people in western Germany were also there because of the storm
No electricity in the afternoon. In addition to the Eifel, the Rhein-Sieg district on the left bank of the Rhine, the Rheinisch-Bergisch district and parts of the Bergisches Land were also particularly affected, the company said.

Expert: Flood situation in NRW remains “dynamic and very tense”

4.36 p.m.: After historical water levels on many rivers in North Rhine-Westphalia, the flood situation remains tense on Thursday. According to the flood information service of the State Office for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection (Lanuv), the water levels in smaller bodies of water such as the Volme are slowly falling, but the situation remains “dynamic and very tense”, it said at noon. An “extraordinary flood with historical water levels” is also emerging for the Ruhr, said the head of the flood information service Bernd Mehlig in Duisburg on Wednesday. In particular, the places along the Ruhr from Hagen, where Volme and Lenne flow into the Ruhr, are affected.

According to the information, a number of water levels, especially in the south and southwest of North Rhine-Westphalia, had reached historic highs during the night, overflowed their banks and flooded inner cities.

“The water levels on many smaller rivers, especially in the Eifel, are still at a very high level,” said Mehlig on Thursday afternoon. “The situation is still very confusing.” Mehlig emphasized that when the water levels drop, cleaning up begins. “It won’t get any worse then, but that doesn’t make it good,” says the expert.

The peak wave of the Rhine is not expected until Saturday. “The Rhine near Cologne is expected to have its apex on Saturday morning at 8.50 meters,” said Mehlig. “That is extremely unusual for the summer. But you don’t have to assume a serious dangerous situation. “

Flood in the Eifel: Video shows rescue by police helicopter

Looting attempts in Stolberg – Hundreds in action

3:50 p.m.: In Stolberg near Aachen, criminals are already taking advantage of the flood situation: There were individual attempts to loot shops, said a police spokesman on Thursday. Accordingly, in three cases witnesses reported that people were in flooded shops. Police arrested a suspect at a jewelry store.

When the officers arrived at the other crime scenes – a supermarket and a drugstore – several strangers fled. It was initially unclear whether something was stolen. A hundred of the police are now in Stolberg to protect the abandoned houses and shops from looting.

Probably at least 42 dead in Germany after severe storms

3:03 p.m.: Much higher death rates after the storm in Germany: The number of storm deaths in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia increased to at least 42 over the course of Thursday. The Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler area, with 18 dead, and Euskirchen, south of Cologne, with 15 dead, were particularly hard hit, as the responsible police stations announced. Some of the dead have not yet been rescued. A number of people are also missing.

An overview of the deceased:
Ahrweiler district: 18 dead
District of Euskirchen: 15 dead
Rheinbach (Rhein-Sieg district): 3 dead
Cologne: 2 dead
Solingen: 1 dead
Werdohl: 1 dead
Altena: 1 dead
Came: 1 dead

Baden-Württemberg sends helicopters to flood relief

1.59 p.m.: Because of the severe flooding in Rhineland-Palatinate, the Ministry of the Interior of Baden-Württemberg sent a helicopter and crew to the particularly affected Ahrweiler district. As the ministry announced on Thursday, the crew consists of three forces. In addition, two fire fighters from the Stuttgart height rescue service were sent to Rhineland-Palatinate.

The forces have been in use since the morning and have already saved several people from the floods. Rescuing people trapped by water is also the main task of the emergency services, the ministry said.

According to the police in the Eifel district of Ahrweiler, several people died after continuous rain and flooding. Numerous people were still missing. The helicopter used by the Baden-Württemberg police helicopter squadron is equipped with a winch so that the air-assisted winch rescue of people in need can be started as soon as possible, it said.

Greenpeace: Current extreme weather is the result of the climate crisis

12:54 p.m.: The environmental protection organization Greenpeace has described the “current extreme weather” such as heavy rain, floods and floods as consequences of the climate crisis. “And that’s just the beginning,” said climate expert Karsten Smid on Thursday to the German Press Agency in Berlin. “With global warming, temperatures are rising to new record levels all over the world.” The atmosphere is heating up and discharging in the form of storms.

With regard to the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), he said: “What it means for the people that the Merkel government has always placed climate protection and climate adaptation behind short-term economic interests is felt most painfully by the population in large parts of Germany Weise. “The black-red government never provided sufficient solutions for climate protection.

12:51 p.m.: The village of Schuld in the Ahrweiler district on the edge of the Eifel is particularly hard hit by the flood disaster. Onlookers hinder the search for missing persons *.

Laschet calls for more speed in climate protection – Merkel, Baerbock and Scholz also comment

12.36 p.m.: CDU Chancellor candidate and NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet commented on the situation in his state. Laschet called for more speed in climate protection worldwide. The increasing heavy rain and heat events are associated with climate change, said the North Rhine-Westphalian Prime Minister and Union Chancellor candidate on Thursday during a visit to the city of Hagen, which was particularly affected by the flooding.

Such extreme weather events can be expected again and again in the future. That is why more dynamism is now required in terms of climate protection and the necessary adaptation to change, emphasized Laschet.

NRW has led the way with the first nationwide climate adaptation law recently passed in the Düsseldorf state parliament. Dike protection is also one of the tasks ahead. In the disaster areas, however, the water overflowed so quickly that even a dike would not have helped, said Laschet.

Green Chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock also commented on the flood: “My thoughts today are with the people in the west and east of Germany, whose streets and houses are flooded by heavy rain. And I thank the tireless emergency services, who risk a lot to help. “Baerbock continues via Twitter:” The news about the death of a firefighter in North Rhine-Westphalia and a missing police officer in Saxony make me sad. My condolences go to their families and friends. “

SPD Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz also commented on Twitter: “The reports on the flood alarm and shock. Now it’s about quick help. My big thanks go to the emergency services who risk their lives. My condolences go out to the missing and deceased, their relatives and everyone whose homes have been flooded. “

Chancellor Angela Merkel * said during her visit to the USA: “I am shocked by the disaster that so many people have to endure in the flood areas,” said Merkel, according to a tweet from government spokesman Steffen Seibert. “My condolences go out to the relatives of the dead and missing. I thank the many tireless helpers and emergency services from the bottom of my heart. “

Chaos in the Eifel: Hessen sends helpers to the storm regions

12.29 p.m.: Hessen sends numerous helpers and specialists to the storm regions. There are already four height rescue teams from the Wiesbaden professional fire brigade as well as the Hesse mountain rescue service and the police squadron with three helicopters in Rhineland-Palatinate to support rescue measures in the Eifel region, said Interior Minister Peter Beuth (CDU) in Wiesbaden on Thursday.

After a request for help from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, 600 specialists from dozens of Hessian disaster relief trains also prepared for quick help in the neighboring country. The units are intended to support the local forces in combating the consequences of heavy rain and floods with high-performance pumps and water retention systems, among other things, said Beuth.

At least 20 dead in storms – houses in the Eifel collapsed

Update 12.12 p.m.: Whole stretches of land are flooded, places cut off from the outside world, houses collapsed: at least 20 people died after continuous rain in western Germany. In the village of Schuld in the Eifel, four houses were completely washed away and two others half washed away on Thursday night. According to the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Interior, 50 to 70 people are missing.

Other buildings in the disaster region are threatened with collapse. “We have never seen such a disaster. It is really devastating, ”said Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (SPD) in Mainz.

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The situation in North Rhine-Westphalia also remains tense. After the heavy rain has subsided, the fire brigade and other emergency services are fighting in many places with the worsening flood situation. At least 15 people died.

NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) visited Altena in the Märkischer Kreis on Thursday. A 46-year-old firefighter died there on Wednesday afternoon after rescuing a man from a flooded district. On Thursday, Altena was still cut off from the outside world.

Floods in the Eifel: Historically high Moselle water levels – relaxation only in the afternoon

12:08 p.m.: According to forecasts, the water level of the Moselle will initially continue to rise over the course of Thursday. The flood forecast center of the Rhineland-Palatinate State Environment Agency did not expect relaxation until the late afternoon. “Numerous inflow levels are already recording historic highs,” said the authority.

At the Trier gauge, the reporting height of six meters was exceeded on Wednesday evening and the water level continues to rise sharply. “In the afternoon, the water level can rise up to 940 cm,” said the headquarters on Thursday morning. “Then the water levels will fall.”

The water levels in the Sauer also rose on Thursday. The experts expected that a high of 6.10 to 6.20 meters will be reached at noon. “Then falling water levels are also forecast here.” At numerous Eifel and Sauer tributaries, the water levels rose extremely last night and reached historic highs.

FDP chairman Wissing (Rhineland-Palatinate): “National disaster” – help required from the federal government

11.42 a.m.: The Rhineland-Palatinate FDP chairman Volker Wissing has called on the federal government to provide quick and unbureaucratic help for the victims of the storms in the Eifel. It was a “national disaster,” he said on Thursday in Mainz. “We must not leave the people in the affected regions alone in this situation.” Many people suffered terrible losses and “lost relatives, friends, their houses, their property,” said Wissing, who is also the FDP general secretary.

Bavarian helicopters for flood relief in Rhineland-Palatinate

11.35 a.m.: After the heavy floods in Rhineland-Palatinate, two “Edelweiß” helicopters from the Bavarian riot police flew to Rhineland-Palatinate for air rescue. In addition to the flight crew, the helicopters “Edelweiß 5” and “Edelweiß 7” also have two air rescue specialists from the water rescue service and the Bavarian Red Cross to provide targeted help with the rescue from flood areas, as the police announced on Thursday. The machines would support the helicopter squadron based in Koblenz.

Normally the “Edelweiß” helicopters of the Bavarian riot police fly their missions in Bavaria and help the emergency services on the ground in the search for missing persons and in searches.

Dozens of missing people in the Eifel town are still to blame

11.14 a.m.: After the heavy storms in the Eifel town of Schuld in the Ahrweil district, dozens of people are still missing. On Thursday night, according to the Koblenz police, four houses were completely washed away and two other houses were half washed away as a result of the flooding. A large number of other buildings are unstable and there is a risk of collapse.

At least four people were reportedly killed in the storm in the Ahrweiler district. It was initially unclear whether the deaths were related to the house collapses. According to a police spokesman, the dead were found in various locations in the district.

The exact number of people missing after the houses collapsed in debt is uncertain, according to the police. Some of the initially around 70 cases have since cleared up, a spokesman said on Thursday morning.

The entire district of Ahrweiler in Rhineland-Palatinate is affected by the storm. According to the police, several places were cut off from the outside world because of the flood. About 50 people were therefore temporarily on the roofs of houses. The rescue measures are currently still ongoing.

The police have set up a hotline on 0800-6565651 for relatives who miss people. The number 110 asks you to call only in emergencies.

Weather service: Heavy rain subsides – Largest water masses in NRW

11.09 a.m.: According to the German Weather Service (DWD), the peak of the extreme rainfall in parts of Germany has been exceeded. The DWD meteorologist Marco Manitta expected “a relaxation of the weather” on Thursday. Although there could still be “punctual heavy rain”, this was no longer as widespread as last night, said Manitta of the German press agency. “The potential for severe weather drops significantly.”

According to Manitta, the greatest amounts of precipitation occurred in a wide strip from the Sauerland over the Bergisches Land and the Eifel, the greater Cologne / Bonn area to the border with Luxembourg. The front runner was Rheinbach-Todenfeld (Rhein-Sieg district in North Rhine-Westphalia) with 158 millimeters of water in the measurement period of 24 hours – most of which fell from the sky in a shorter period of time, as the expert explained. This was followed by Cologne-Stammheim with 154 millimeters. The measured 24-hour period started at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

Telephone lines to police stations in the flood area disrupted

11:08 a.m.: Due to the dramatic flood situation in the Eifel, the police inspections in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler and Adenau cannot be reached by phone at the moment. “The telephone lines there are all disrupted,” said the Koblenz police headquarters on Thursday. For urgent calls, for example to missing persons, the number 0800 65 65 65 1 should be dialed. The police asked for patience. “The large number of calls will certainly cause a waiting time.” The emergency number 112 or 110 should only be called in urgent cases. “No information is given there under any circumstances.”

Floods in the Eifel: Eight dead in the Euskirchen district alone

11.02 a.m.: New reports of death from the Eifel: In the district of Euskirchen (North Rhine-Westphalia), according to the first findings of the authorities, several people have died. “We are currently aware of eight deaths,” said the circle’s Facebook page on Thursday.

“There are rescues taking place,” it said. The situation is very critical. Sometimes there is no access to the places. The communication in the district has largely failed. The fire brigade emergency number 112 and the district administration cannot be reached either. The district can currently only provide irregular information due to the connection problems. Desperate local residents are searching for missing relatives on social media.

Height rescue special forces fly into the flood area

10:50 a.m.: Special forces from the height rescue group of the Wiesbaden fire brigade flew into the flood area in northern Rhineland-Palatinate on Thursday. The emergency services should support the rescuers in the districts particularly affected by the flood, as the fire brigade announced. The specialists were brought to the flood area in helicopters belonging to the Hesse police squadron.

Two height rescuers from the Wiesbaden fire brigade were already on duty in the Eifel on Wednesday evening. In the district of Ahrweiler, hanging on the helicopter’s winch and under sometimes the most adverse conditions, they could have saved several people who were trapped by the masses of water in their houses, in vehicles or sitting on trees.

Several people rescued from trapped houses in the Eifel district of Bitburg-Prüm – drinking water is becoming scarce

10.45 a.m.: In the Eifel district of Bitburg-Prüm, several people were trapped in their homes by the water masses due to the flood situation, including in Waxweiler. That said the district spokesman on Thursday in Bitburg. People had to be rescued – but there have not yet been any reports of dead, injured or missing. The district spokesman also reported on at least one collapsed house.

After the heavy rains, there are restrictions in the drinking water supply in several communities in the Bitburg-Prüm district. The reason for power failures, said the disaster control of the district on Facebook. The supply is expected to be “limited to days”. The residents were asked to use the available water sparingly and to refrain from cleaning work.

Number of flood deaths rises to eleven

10:37 a.m.: The number of dead has now increased to eleven. Four alone died in debt in the Eifel. Two people in Cologne and one person in Rheinbach (North Rhine-Westphalia) fell victim to the floods, as did one person each in Solingen and Unna. They all perished in their flooded cellars. Two firefighters also died while working in North Rhine-Westphalia – in Altena and Wehrdol.

Onlookers hinder rescue operations in the Eifel

10:23 am: The police not only have to fight with the masses of water – onlookers are also hindering the work of the officials. Please keep the escape routes free !!!! “, the Koblenz police tweeted.

Large-scale power failure in the Eifel – local network stations under water

10.11 a.m.: The storms and floods in the Eifel have led to a large-scale power outage. As a spokeswoman for the network operator Westnetz said, the districts of Ahrweiler, Vulkaneifel, Mayen-Koblenz, Bitburg-Prüm and Trier-Saarburg are particularly affected in Rhineland-Palatinate. Numerous local network stations were under water there and should have been switched off, as Westnetz announced in Saffig. In the district of Bernkastel-Wittlich, isolated villages are without electricity. More than 100 colleagues from Westnetz in Rhineland-Palatinate are in constant use to get the power supply going again at the places where it is possible, said the spokeswoman.

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Bundeswehr on site in North Rhine-Westphalia: armored recovery vehicles and clearing equipment

9.46 a.m.: The Bundeswehr is also helping to fight the flood: The troops moved in with an armored recovery vehicle and heavy clearance equipment to repair the severe damage caused by the flood in Hagen (North Rhine-Westphalia). There are currently 230 soldiers on site, as the picture reports.

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9.34 a.m.: A 77-year-old man from Kamen died in the floods in North Rhine-Westphalia. The man died in the submerged basement of his house, the police said on Thursday. There were no indications of third-party negligence. The criminal police are investigating the circumstances of death.

Floods in Germany: the number of missing people rises to almost 70

9.30 a.m.: According to the Koblenz police, the number of missing people in the Eifel town of Schuld in the Ahrweiler district, which was hard hit by the floods, has risen to almost 70. There were reportedly six houses collapsed on Thursday night. A large number of houses are unstable and there is a risk of collapse. The disaster had been declared. At least four people were killed, according to the police.

The entire district of Ahrweiler in Rhineland-Palatinate was affected by the storm, said the spokesman. Several places were therefore cut off from the outside world because of the flood. The four dead were found in various locations in the county. Around 50 people are still on the roofs of houses and need to be rescued.

Flooding in the Eifel: Laschet cancels his visit to the retreat and returns to North Rhine-Westphalia

9.16 a.m.: CDU boss Armin Laschet has canceled his planned visit to the retreat of the CSU regional group in Seeon because of the dramatic flood situation in the Eifel. The State Chancellery announced in Düsseldorf on Thursday. Laschet had broken off his trip through southern Germany and returned to North Rhine-Westphalia that night.

On Thursday morning, Laschet wanted to visit the city of Hagen, which was particularly hard hit by the storms, to get an idea of the situation there with the mayor on the crisis team. The State Chancellery also said that after his visit to Hagen, the Prime Minister wanted to find out about the consequences and further developments of the storms in North Rhine-Westphalia and to force possible aid from the state.

Laschet had discussed the cancellation of the visit to the CSU retreat with CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt and the CSU chairman Markus Söder. He linked this with the promise to meet with the CSU regional group in August, it said.

Flood in the Eifel: four people dead in the Ahrweiler district

Update from July 15, 7:50 a.m.: The Ahrweiler district was hit particularly hard by the storms, not least because of the disaster in the town of Schuld. In connection with the weather events, at least four people were killed in the district, as the Koblenz police announced. According to the dpa , the victims were found in several places.

The situation is still dramatic, especially in the village of Schuld bei Adenau. The number of missing people has meanwhile increased. According to AFP, the police are now speaking of 50 to 60 people who are missing there alone. Numerous other people are also on their roofs, waiting to be rescued. The operations are in full swing.

First report: guilt – Even on Wednesday evening and on Thursday night, strong storms severely affected large parts of Germany. The place Schuld bei Adenau in the Eifel is extremely affected. As the SWR reports, six houses are said to have collapsed here during the night. Quite a few people are missing.

This is probably due to flooding and heavy continuous rainfall *. According to the police, about 30 people are missing, the SWR reports on. How many people are exactly missing is unclear. According to a police spokesman, the situation is very confusing. And a continuation of the drama does not seem entirely out of the question. Accordingly, 25 other houses are probably unstable and threatened to collapse.

Storm drama in the Eifel: the entire region was hit hard

In general, the Eifel was hit hard by the storm *. In the Bitburg-Prüm district, according to the Eifelkreis in Waxweiler, five people are stuck in a house that is completely surrounded by water, reports the SWR . According to a spokesman for the Eifelkreis, the situation is dramatic and the house can no longer be reached by boat. You wait for the air ambulance.

Several other incidents have been reported. For example, two employees of the technical relief organization in Messerich were trapped by the water on the way to the use of the water and are now waiting for help on the roof of their car. Inner cities were also completely flooded in neighboring districts, and bridges and roads were closed. A video shows the spectacular rescue of the fire brigade *. (han / cg with dpa) – Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.

List of rubric lists: © Christoph Reichwein / dpa