While the clean-up work in Rhineland-Palatinate begins after the flood, the extent of the disaster becomes clear. Flood victims are still being rescued. The news ticker.
- In Rhineland-Palatinate, too, the clean-up work can slowly begin after the flood disaster.
- In the district of Ahrweiler * alone, the number of deaths rose to 117.
- The police promised the flood victims to take tougher action against the looting of the vacant houses. (See update from July 19, 4:24 p.m.)
- The news ticker is updated continuously.
Update from July 19, 4.40 p.m.: According to the Ministry of the Environment in Rhineland-Palatinate, restoring the water supply in the Ahr Valley is a big problem. “As far as the hot spots are concerned, we do not yet have the overview to make a forecast over time,” said State Secretary Erwin Manz in the SWR. Numerous lines are damaged. Often there is no electricity.
Update from July 19, 4:24 p.m.: At a press conference in the Ahrweiler crisis area in Rhineland-Palatinate, officials spoke about the extent of the disaster. “We as the police will do everything on site to help those affected!” Over 30 towns are affected, and many roads and bridges are destroyed. Currently there are still dangers for the local people, for example from exposed power lines.
The senior public prosecutor Harald Kruse also promised to take action against the looting of the vacant buildings: “Should it come to the fact that local people take advantage of the helplessness of those affected, we will be tackled with all the harshness of the rule of law. Thank God there has been no reason to do so. “
Update from July 19, 1:54 p.m.: Only gradually does it become apparent what damage the flood has caused in Rhineland-Palatinate. In many places you had to wait for the water to decline, said Minister of Economics Schmitt on Monday on Deutschlandfunk. During these hours, testing teams begin their work. In addition to employees from the state, engineers from all over Germany also volunteered, for example to inspect streets more closely. Schmitt speaks of a “mammoth task that will challenge the country financially and personally”. The country is dependent on money from the federal government.
Floods in Rhineland-Palatinate: First visible consequences are serious – more fatalities expected
Update from July 19, 12:36 p.m.: The Interior Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, Roger Lewentz (SPD) expects more deaths in the course of the clean-up work. “Because the water is now going back, because we are now starting to empty the cellar,” said the SPD politician on Monday in the SWR. The number of missing people will still be put into perspective. According to Lewetz, 3,000 people were still missing in Rhineland-Palatinate on Saturday.
Some of them are probably unavailable because of the destroyed cell phone network. In addition, there is still a lack of electricity and water in numerous places in the disaster area. The mayor of the badly affected municipality of Altenahr expects an emergency for a long time to come: “It looks as if the infrastructure has been so badly destroyed that in some places there may be no drinking water for weeks or even months,” said Weiland on Sunday at “Bild live”.
Flood in Rhineland-Palatinate: the number of flood victims rises to 117
First report : Koblenz / Schuld – The water is slowly retreating. Even the sun is shining. The clean-up work in Rhineland-Palatinate has only just begun and new victims of the flood disaster are still appearing. In the Ahrweiler district alone, which was hit particularly hard by the floods, the death toll rose to 117. In addition, at least 749 people were injured, said a police spokeswoman in Koblenz on Monday. How many people are still missing is still unclear. On Sunday, the number of flood deaths in Rhineland-Palatinate was given as Up110.
Consequences of flooding in Rhineland-Palatinate: Mayor bursts into tears “Flood will leave scars”
When Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Malu Dreyer visited the crisis area in Rhineland-Palatinate, there were moving scenes on Sunday. “This flood will leave scars for the people in Schuld”, emphasized Helmut Lussi, the local mayor of Schuld, which also belongs to the Ahrweiler district. “Scars that you never forget, that cannot be dealt with. Because our life has changed from one day to the next ”.
Lussi only brings out the last sentence in tears. His voice breaks off. Despair is written on his face. Many residents of the debt are not equipped with an elementary damage insurance. “But these are people who want to build up again,” Lussi continues.
Floods in Rhineland-Palatinate: The willingness to help is great – the police want to prevent looting
The willingness to help in the region is great with this structure. Numerous people lend a hand, bring vehicles, services or clothing. The police are now even advising not to deliver any more donations in kind. The overwhelming willingness to help resulted in the existing storage capacities being utilized to the full.
The Koblenz police also asked not to drive to the disaster areas independently to help. “We ask for your understanding that private help (still) has to wait. The few still intact escape routes must be kept clear for the emergency services! “
During the night, the police officers in the Ahrweiler district remained on duty, “to protect against further hazards and empty property”. Previously, residents had complained about the looting of the vacant houses. (vs) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
