Large parts of Western Germany were hit by heavy, continuous rain in the night to July 15, resulting in local flash floods that destroyed buildings and swept away cars. The number of deaths after storms in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia increased to at least 81, German broadcaster ARD said on July 16, in what is Germany's worst mass loss of life in years. The Bad Neuenahr, Ahrweiler and Euskirchen areas were particularly hard hit, according to the police. Some of the dead have not yet been recovered, and people are still missing.
PHOTO PACKAGE: Deadly Floods Hit Germany, Western Europe
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A handout photo made available by the Rhein-Erft authorities shows the area after heavy rains had triggered flooding in Erftstadt-Blessem, Germany, July 16, 2021.
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Severe damages in the village of Schuld in the district of Ahrweiler after heavy flooding of the river Ahr, in Schuld, July 16, 2021.
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An aerial picture taken with a drone shows the destroyed village of Schuld in the district of Ahrweiler after heavy flooding of the river Ahr, in Schuld, Germany, early July 16, 2021.
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Severe damages in the village of Schuld in the district of Ahrweiler after heavy flooding of the river Ahr, in Schuld, July 16, 2021.
