It is unknown how many people died. It is also not clear how many people are missing. Because of the severe weather, the houses in Erfstadt-Belsim were flooded and some of them collapsed.
Rescue is often not possible
According to local authorities, emergency calls are made from homes, but rescue is often not possible. On-site emergency service. According to German media, there are not enough rescue workers, and their work is hampered by an irreparable gas leak.
The text continues below the tweet.
Flooding is a top priority for the army
German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said on Friday that rescue operations in flood-affected areas are now a top priority for the Bundeswehr. Temporarily halted all military activities not directly related to foreign missions.
Soldiers support the rescue operations with about five hundred men in North Rhine-Westphalia and at least two hundred in the Rhineland-Palatinate. They rescue people, evacuate buildings, distribute fuel and sandbags, while police work to provide protection and prevent looting.
Lunch Update
Daily during lunch update of the most important news.
E-mail address is not valid. Please fill in again.
Read our privacy policy here.
Zombie specialist. Friendly twitter guru. Internet buff. Organizer. Coffee trailblazer. Lifelong problem solver. Certified travel enthusiast. Alcohol geek.