Heavy flooding turned streams and streets into roaring torrents, sweeping away cars and forcing buildings to collapse in Germany and neighbouring Belgium, killing more than 20 people and leaving scores more missing.
Storms in western Europe recently caused rivers and reservoirs to overflow their banks, causing flash floods as rain-soaked earth couldn’t absorb any more water.
Authorities in the western German region of Euskirchen announced on Thursday that eight people had died as a result of the floods. The fact that phone and internet connections were down in portions of the county, which is southwest of Cologne, impeded rescue efforts.
Four persons were killed in Ahrweiler county, according to police in the western city of Koblenz. Several buildings in the village of Schuld in the Eifel, a volcanic region of undulating hills and small valleys southwest of Cologne, fell overnight, leaving up to 70 people missing.
Hundreds more were trapped on their roofs, waiting to be rescued. The rescue mission included the use of inflatable boats and helicopters, as well as the deployment of 200 German soldiers.
The Vesdre river in Belgium burst its banks, sending masses of water churning through the streets of Pepinster, near Liege, where its devastating power brought down some structures.
