The water masses are falling. Only gradually does the extent of the catastrophe become clear. The police have already registered 90 deaths in the greater Ahrweiler area.
Koblenz – After the flood disaster in the greater Ahrweiler area, the death toll has risen to over 90 this morning, according to police reports. It is to be feared that there will be more deaths, the police said.
Overall, the police headquarters have reported a total of 618 injuries. This number could also increase further. Even more than two days after the accident, people are still missing.
In Rhineland-Palatinate, the Ahrweiler district is the focus of the disaster. Interior Minister Roger Lewentz (SPD) spoke of 63 deaths on Friday. The number of injuries was still 362.
Among the dead are twelve residents of a facility for people with intellectual disabilities in Sinzig, where the Ahr flows into the Rhine. “The water reached the ceiling of the first floor within a minute,” said Matthias Mandos, the managing director of the Landesverband der Lebenshilfe Rhineland-Palatinate. The night watch still managed to bring several residents to the first floor of the dormitory. “When he wanted to get the next one, he was already too late.” On Friday, a layer of mud about three meters high could be seen on the building, which reached over the windows of the ground floor.
Power grid paralyzed
In many localities, the electricity and telephone network continued to fail. Relatives, friends or acquaintances who miss someone can call the police on 0800 6565651. The hotline is available around the clock and accepts every message.
According to the presidium, the police were on duty with many emergency services in the affected locations during the night. Due to the storm, many roads in the Ahr Valley are still closed or no longer passable. The police asks to bypass the Ahr valley extensively. Escape routes must be kept free for rescue workers.
The weather situation has now eased. But it remains changeable, as the German Weather Service (DWD) announced. Therefore, local thunderstorms with heavy rain could continue. The precipitation should not stop until the weekend.
The state government decided to set up a reconstruction department. The federal government wants to decide in the coming week on construction aid for citizens and municipalities in the flood areas. dpa
