Floods in Parts of Northern Europe after Heavy Rains
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Heavy rains caused flooding in parts of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands overnight into May 18, swamping streets and buildings and sparking evacuations.
In the south-western German state of Saarland, streets were deep underwater and images on social media showed emergency workers carrying local residents to safety in boats, AFP reported.
State capital Saarbruecken was hit hard while German daily Bild reported that a breach in a dyke in the town of Quierschied led to a power station in the area being shut down.
No deaths were reported but at least one person was injured. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is due to visit the area later on May 18.
Saarland state premier Anke Rehlinger described the situation as “very tense” and warned there could be widespread damage.
But the picture had improved early on May 18 with a severe weather warning for the area lifted and water levels falling, said Saarbruecken mayor Uwe Conradt.
Hundreds of emergency service workers were still on the ground helping with the clean-up.
In 2021, the German regions of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia were hit by catastrophic floods that killed over 180 people.
In Belgium, the province of Liege was hit by severe flooding, with the authorities receiving hundreds of requests for assistance and 150 firefighters deployed, governor Herve Jamar said.
The main help provided by emergency services was pumping water out of flooded buildings, he said.
Over the border in the Dutch province of Limburg, two campsites were evacuated early on May 18 as they were threatened by rising floodwaters, officials said.
Meanwhile, the Moselle area in France’s north-east was placed on flood alert as water levels rose in rivers following heavy rains.
