In North Rhine-Westphalia as well as in Rhineland-Palatinate, a state parliament investigative committee is now working on the floods from mid-July.
The NRW state government is criticized for having misjudged the dangers.
Düsseldorf - The parliamentary committee of inquiry to deal with the flood disaster in North Rhine-Westphalia is meeting today for its constituent meeting. The state parliament body with court-like powers is to investigate possible omissions, omissions or incorrect assessments of the NRW state government and subordinate authorities in connection with the devastating flood in mid-July. The committee is supposed to shed light on the days before the heavy rain - namely the period from July 9th, when the EU system EFAS issued the first warning.
The U-Committee was enforced by the opposition factions SPD and Greens.
In their application they listed 68 questions.
They want to know why the country's crisis team was not activated.
The CDU / FDP state government defended itself against the accusation that it had misjudged the risk of the flood disaster.
The FDP member Ralf Witzel chairs the committee.
The body has the right to question witnesses and inspect files from ministries and authorities.
A committee of inquiry is considered to be the strongest instrument of parliament.
In NRW, the committee starts work around seven months before the end of the legislative period.
A new state parliament will be elected on May 15, 2022.
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Ahrweiler district pays further emergency aid to private households
Flood victims in the Ahrweiler district can expect a further 20 million euros in donations.
As the district administration of Ahrweiler announced on Thursday, every private household registered in the database and entitled to receive will receive around 1200 euros from October.
The purpose of the emergency aid is to provide affected people with money for essential errands.
Ahrweiler district pays further emergency aid to private households
Aurubis resumes production after flooding
The copper recycler Aurubis plant in Stolberg near Aachen, which was severely damaged by the flood disaster, is to gradually start production again from November.
After extensive clean-up and repair work, production of certain copper strips could start again, Aurubis announced on Monday.
The start of production for other product groups is not yet in sight, as the repairs will not be completed until later.
Aurubis resumes production after flooding
CDU: U committee could start in the fall
In the 21st century, there was a flash flood in Rhineland-Palatinate with 134 deaths.
Many victims were surprised in their sleep due to a lack of warnings.
Why?
A committee of inquiry should clarify this.
A minister could come under further pressure.
CDU: U committee could start in the fall
Storms with unusually heavy rainfall triggered a flood disaster in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia in mid-July.
In NRW alone 49 people lost their lives.
Whole areas were devastated by the masses of water.
According to initial estimates, damage amounting to around 13 billion euros occurred in North Rhine-Westphalia alone.
In Rhineland-Palatinate, too, where more than 130 people were killed, an investigative committee is working on the flood disaster.
dpa