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Ahrweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate
Everyone approaches: neighbors and volunteers from the area are on duty non-stop - in addition to the rescue and emergency services.
The district of Ahrweiler in Rhineland-Palatinate is the region in Germany hardest hit by the flood disaster to date.
Felix Doetch, volunteer
“It became clear to us when we saw the first pictures: The people need a lot of help because all the masses, you can see them in the background, they are not gone overnight. And that's why we thought we'd just want to do our part. "
Jakob Herdt, volunteer
"That we help each other and help people in need, that we simply see people who are deeply in need."
Peggy, volunteer helper
»I met my husband in Ahrweiler, and when I saw it on TV, I was just deeply shocked and thought I had to help me. Now we are everywhere with the whole family. "
The death toll in the heavily devastated district has now risen to 117.
749 people are injured, the number of missing is still unclear - even days after the flash flood.
With the clean-up work, the full extent of the disaster is only slowly becoming apparent.
The essentials are missing on site.
Gas, water and internet either do not exist at all or only temporarily.
Volunteers provide a minimum of infrastructure by hand.
The existence of many locals is threatened - or has already been destroyed.
This former restaurant will no longer operate anytime soon.
Nevertheless, at the moment, gratitude outweighs:
Reinhard Gnath, restaurant owner
»Suddenly people are coming from the Westerwald, from Düren, from, on Zülpich, from Euskirchen. We had the helpers inside and enjoyed unbelievable help in the first 24 hours. It was great."
Nevertheless, the crisis team asks those willing to help not to enter the disaster area on their own.
The few intact escape routes must be kept free for the emergency services, it is said.