Floods in Europe cause deaths and disappearances

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(CNN Spanish) -

At least 46 people died due to severe flooding in Eastern Europe.

Germany has been the hardest hit, although there are also floods in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

The death toll in severe floods in Germany has risen to 40, according to police, with dozens missing.

Six people have also died in Belgium, bringing the total death toll from recent floods in the region to 46.

Authorities told CNN that about 70 people are still missing as the search and rescue operation continues.

Steffen Seibert, a spokesperson for Angela Merkel, offered condolences from the chancellor to the families of the victims on Twitter.

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“I am shocked by the disaster that so many people have to endure in the flooded areas.

My condolences to the families of the dead and disappeared ”.

Merkel is currently in Washington where she will meet with President Joe Biden on Thursday during what will likely be her last visit to the United States before leaving the Chancellery after 16 years in power.

• The issues to be discussed in Angela Merkel's visit to the White House

Armin Laschet, the leader of the "Westphalia North Rhine and Conservatives" and candidate to replace Merkel, visited the region on Thursday.

"We will face these events again and again, and that means we have to accelerate climate protection measures, at European, federal and global level, because climate change is not confined to one state," Laschett said.

Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said on Twitter that they are deploying more military personnel to the disaster areas in the west and southeast.

"The Bundeswehr is helping quickly and without complications in Hagen and Ahrweiler with about 300 soldiers," he said.

Floods in Belgium

In Belgium, at least six people died in the floods that hit the southern part of the Wallonia region, CNN affiliate RTBF reported on Thursday, citing the duty judge of the Verviers prosecutor's office and the governor of Liège province.

These people died after heavy rains hit the region, the RTBF also said.

The Wallonia region borders Germany's Westphalia North Rhine region, one of the hardest hit by the floods.

The floods disrupted the national networks of the Infrabel railway, disrupting traffic in the French-speaking area in the south of the country, the company said Thursday in a press release.

"Given the scale of the disruptions, and to ensure that we are not putting customers or staff at risk, Infrabel made the decision to disrupt all traffic to Wallonia," said Infrabel CEO Benoit Gilson in the statement from press

"Once the situation is under control, Infrabel will relieve the damage, determine its priorities and take all necessary actions to safely resume traffic," added Gilson.

Help dispatch

France offered to help and sent 40 rescue firefighters to Belgium, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said on Twitter on Thursday.

The European Union activated the civil emergency response mechanism to assist the areas of Belgium affected by the floods, the EU Commission said Thursday in a statement.

“Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, can count on the help of the EU to deal with these dramatic floods.

My thoughts are with the victims of these tragic events and with all those who will have to rebuild what they lost.

I want to thank all rescue teams for their invaluable help and tireless effort, "said EU Council President Charles Michel on Twitter this Thursday.

Reports from Nadine Schmidt in Berlin, Barbara Wojazer in Paris and Sharon Braithwaite in London

Floods