At least 45 people have died and several dozen more are still missing this Thursday as a result of the heavy rains – the most intense measures in 24 hours since records are had – that have occurred overnight and early in the morning in western Germany.
The waterspout has caused rivers to overflow, washed away several houses and flooded basements, where some people trapped in them have drowned. At least 200,000 people have been left without electricity, there are areas without telephone or internet coverage and several rail lines and roads have been cut off. The floods have also affected parts of Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and eastern France.
