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The federal government will allocate over US$350 million to support the victims and to start recovery in the most affected regions.
On Sunday, Germany's federal authorities announced that at least 156 people have died due to heavy rainfalls, which have affected much of Western Europe in recent weeks.
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The highest number of victims belongs to the Ahrweiler region in Rhineland-Palatinate with 110 dead people. Meanwhile, 27 people died in Belgium, pushing the death toll to 183 across Europe.
On Sunday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited the Schuld village, which was devastated by heavy rainfall.
"We must hurry. We must be faster in the fight against climate change," Merkel said while describing the landscape as "surreal and phantasmagoric."
After heavy floods in Germany, Belgium and Netherlands - now Austria ����
— Daniel Moser (@_dmoser) July 17, 2021
“This is the climate crisis unravelling in one of the richest parts of the world — which for a long time thought it would be “safe”. No place is “safe” any more.”~ @Luisamneubauer pic.twitter.com/Ql41AiM4Q1
Merkel was accompanied by the head of the regional government Malu Dreyer, and Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, who declared that the aid plan exceeds US$350 million.
The emergency status remains in western regions such as Wassenberg, and North Rhine-Westphalia, where a dam broke, causing major damages down waters.
The water level lowered in the last 48 hours, and rescue operation teams continue to search for survivors.
Dozens of people remain missing as severe floods sweep through western Germany and other parts of Europe. pic.twitter.com/SFe6gyllwM
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) July 16, 2021
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