The floods in mid-July killed more than 180 people. Today the victims are commemorated in Aachen Cathedral. Federal President Steinmeier and Chancellor Merkel are also there.
Aachen – At the memorial service for the victims of the flood disaster, the chairman of the Evangelical Church in Germany, Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, also discussed the causes of the flood.
“The consequences of man-made climate change have reached us. We understood that, ”he said on Saturday at the ecumenical service in Aachen Cathedral. He hopes that in 20 years’ time people will be able to say that the drama of the events made them think and made a fresh start.
The chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference, Georg Bätzing, said it would take time before loss and injuries could be processed. But there is already “a glimmer of hope visible”. He mentioned the many rescuers and helpers who have been working for weeks. The floods in mid-July killed more than 180 people in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia.
Among the participants in the service were Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Those affected, helpers and rescuers were present. The Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer (SPD), and the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Armin Laschet (CDU), also came to Aachen. The event was also intended to commemorate the flood victims in Belgium and the Netherlands. dpa
