Merkel vows rapid support to flooded areas

Berlin, Jul 20 (EFE).- Germany will rapidly organize support for areas affected by the recent floods in western Germany, said Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday, as she promised to support reconstruction efforts during a visit to the city of Bad Münstereifel, one of the worst hit by the natural disaster.

“We have been able to understand the situation of Bad Münstereifel, which is a horrible one,” she said, during a joint statement with North Rhine-Westphalia governor Armin Laschet, who will substitute Merkel at the head of the CDU candidacy in the upcoming September federal elections.

“Many homes are uninhabitable, we have met with people who have lost everything. We have to help. We need to take a deep breath. We will not forget them,” said Merkel.

The catastrophic floods caused an estimated 164 deaths in Germany and more than 30 in neighboring Belgium.

The Coblenza police department said 170 people were still unaccounted for in the vicinity of the Ahr river, where most of the fatalities (117) were reported. EFE

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