Heavy Rain in Western Europe After 100 Years... Over 120 Dead in Germany and Belgium

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Record-breaking heavy rain in Western Europe, the worst in 100 years, has resulted in at least 120 deaths confirmed in Germany and Belgium.

In particular, the sudden surge of an enormous amount of water has put many houses at additional risk of collapse, and about 1,300 people are either unreachable due to communication outages or reported missing, raising concerns that the death toll may increase.

According to German police, state government tallies, and AFP news agency on the 16th (local time), the death toll from the heavy rain in Germany has risen to at least 106. There were 63 casualties in Rheinland-Pfalz and 43 in Nordrhein-Westfalen.

The Belgian government officially confirmed by the afternoon of the same day that 20 people had died and 20 were missing. Besides the confirmed deaths, the large number of missing persons suggests the damage could worsen.

Local authorities reported that in the village of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler in Rheinland-Pfalz, the whereabouts of 1,300 people remain unconfirmed. However, officials explained that the lack of confirmation is due to communication disruptions.

The police estimate about 100 missing persons across Rheinland-Pfalz. The Korean Embassy in Germany has dispatched staff to the affected areas to check on the safety of Korean residents. As of midday, no casualties among Koreans have been reported.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, currently visiting the United States, promised that the government will make every effort to support the affected areas.

Chancellor Merkel said, "These will be terrible days for the people in the flood-affected areas," adding, "The government will do everything possible at the national level to save lives, prevent risks, and reduce suffering, no matter how difficult the situation."

According to major foreign media such as CNN, heavy rain fell over most of western Germany and the regions bordering Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg from the 14th to the 15th. Within 24 hours, these areas experienced a "water bomb" of 100 to 150 mm of rainfall, equivalent to the usual monthly precipitation.

By the morning of the 15th, Cologne recorded 154 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, nearly double the July monthly average of 87 mm. Locally heavier rain caused several rivers and reservoirs to overflow, increasing the damage. In Reiferscheid, 207 mm of rain fell over nine hours.

Residents near rivers and reservoirs evacuated to higher ground following government orders, and at least 200,000 households in Germany reportedly lost power. In the German village of Schult, several houses collapsed, and dozens of people remain missing.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.