Flood in Germany, death toll rises

The death toll from the floods in western Germany has risen to 156 dead and 670 injured. This morning the police reported that in the Rhineland-Palatinate region alone, 110 deaths are reported, bringing the death toll across the country to 156 including the 45 confirmed in North Rhine Westphalia. Police also confirmed 670 injured in the Ahrweiler district, at the center of the Rhineland-Palatinate crisis, warning that the death toll could increase further. In many of the surrounding areas, the power and telephone lines are not yet operational. Bad weather moved to German Upper Bavaria, where the Berchtesgadener Land district declared an emergency situation tonight due to torrential rains that hit the area. Meanwhile, Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to visit the community of Schuld, in the Eifel plateau, an area particularly affected by the floods. A press meeting is then planned in Adenau, together with the premier of Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer and other ministers from the region. Yesterday, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited an area affected by the North Rhine-Westphalia disaster on the Erft River and asked for solidarity and donations for the victims. Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer announced his visit to North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate on Monday.