After last week’s devastating floods in Belgium and Germany, nearly 200 people are reported dead while around 70 are still missing.
A total of 196 people have been confirmed dead, including 165 in Germany and 31 in Belgium. In an effort to continue searching for survivors and help clear debris, around 10,000 volunteer workers have offered to go to the worst-affected area in Belgium as the water recedes.
The Belgian king and queen visited the town of Verviers to comfort those who lost loved ones or their homes in the flood. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has called for help and decided the country will hold a national mourning on Tuesday.
In Germany, Ms. Merkel made her second visit to the flash-flooded western region as the job of clearing mud and finding victims continued. In the town of Bad Muenstereifel, Mrs. Merkel began her tour by visiting a warehouse containing donated items.
Mrs. Merkel and Mr. De Croo have promised quick financial support and redouble their efforts on curbing climate change.
The European Union’s environment ministers met in Slovenia on Tuesday to evaluate the EU’s massive and costly plan to stem climate change.
EU Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans is the main architect of major proposals that spend billions of dollars and force industry to undergo drastic reforms to help cut emissions that cause global warming by 55%. of the bloc in this decade.
