Flood disaster in Germany: massive damage and growing anger
Destroyed cars and piles of rubble at the entrance to Walporzheim (Credit: WSWS)
In the parts of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia hardest hit by floods last week, denizens continue to wrestle with the great number of fatalities, injuries and the immense damage caused to homes, businesses, stores, restaurants, hotels, roads, bridges and the entire infrastructure system.
Over 131 people lost their lives in the Ahr Valley of Rhineland-Palatinate. The dead drowned in their houses and apartments or were swept away by the masses of water. The normally tranquil Ahr River became a raging torrent, in places rising eight meters (26 feet) within a few hours. More than 149 people are still missing.
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