In Germany, 180 people were killed in the floods that hit the west of the country on July 14 and 15, and some 150 are still missing or unreachable, according to a new report released Friday by the authorities.
The previous report, Thursday, reported 177 dead.
The region of Rhineland-Palatinate, the most affected by the violent bad weather which devastated several municipalities, counts 132 dead and 766 injured, according to the Koblenz police.
In this region, 149 people are still wanted, according to the same source.
"However, we do not assume that the final number of deaths will increase as much", said at a press conference the Minister of the Interior of the Land, Roger Lewentz, estimating that are on the list of the wanted persons residents who are actually on vacation.
Read alsoTen edifying photos of the disaster
The police carry out their searches using helicopters and around 30 sniffer dogs, especially in places where masses of wood have accumulated in the rains.
“I have no way of knowing if we'll be able to find all the dead.
We will not stop ”, assured Roger Lewentz.
New rains expected this weekend
In the neighboring region of North Rhine-Westphalia, 47 people died in the floods.
Cologne police say they are looking for two missing or unreachable.
One person also died in Bavaria, in the south of the country, affected by the floods.
The German meteorological services have called for vigilance due to new rains announced for this weekend in the west of the country.
In Belgium, where there are 36 dead and 11 missing, the alert system is called into question.
Victims have indeed complained about not having all the information, especially on a saturated dam whose valves were opened, without all residents having been evacuated preventively.
In a press release sent to AFP on Friday, Walloon Climate Minister Philippe Henry believes that “complete clarity” is due to the population and that his administration must provide explanations.
Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Austria a few days later were also affected by flooding even though no casualties were recorded in these countries.
