this we ve never seen anything like this if we ve never seen anything like this if we we ve never seen anything like this. if we don t get any help will have this. if we don t get any help will have to go on benefits. bankrupt. will have to go on benefits. bankrupt- will have to go on benefits. bankrut. , ., , ., , bankrupt. germany, a country famed for bankrupt. germany, a country famed for its bankrupt. germany, a country famed for its strength, - bankrupt. germany, a country famed for its strength, its - famed for its strength, its security feels vulnerable now. jenny hill, bbc news, erfstadt. he told me how he fled with his family as water rose all around them. , ,., them. yes, there were some terrible scenes them. yes, there were some terrible scenes yesterday. i and the evacuation started yesterday morning a few metres away we were about 200 metres down, that water was rising. the flooding had started already and it was coming to our side. 0ur basement was like one m
in europe has risen to at least 125 while hundreds remain unaccounted for. crews are scrambling to rescue people stranded by flood waters and reinforce flood barriers on the verge of collapsing. western germany is hardest hit. jenny hill, from our broadcast partner the bbc, is there. reporter: this country is reeling from the enormity of its loss. this is the town of erfstadt where the ground just fell away under the weight of water, houses collapsed in the night. dramatic rescues. this morning, the authorities said people trapped in the homes were calling for help, but in many cases rescue was impossible. those who did make it out came to shelters like this. johannes has lived here more than 70 years. there have been floods, he told us, but not like this. ( translated ): you can run from fire, but not from water. reporter: tens of thousands of people still don t have power, and they re on alert. water levels have dropped in
rhineland pulatinate and north rhine westphalia were worst hit with over a 100 people dying there. in belgium, at least 20 people have been killed and the netherlands is also badly affected. the power of the water has been immense. here you can see what the village of erf stad blessem looked like before it was hit by floodwater(mix screen 2)and , like before it was hit by floodwater and , look , here it is afterwards. water gushed through. causing a huge landslide in the surrounding fields 0ur correspondent jenny hill sent this report from the nearby town of erf stad this country is reeling from the enormity of its loss. this is the town of erfstadt where the ground just fell away. under the weight of water, houses collapsed in the night. dramatic rescues, but this morning the authorities said people trapped in their homes were calling them for help but in many cases rescue was impossible. those who did make it out came to shelters like this. we metjohannes here, he and his wife were w
submerged and a landslide has demolished parts of the town. 0ur correspondent, jenny hill, sepnt the day there. the ground just fell away. this is the town of erfstadt where the 0vernight houses collapse as the walls just fell in. another shock and the enormity of its loss. it happened so fast one officials said there was no time for warning. officials said there was no time forwarning. rescuers rushed in but this morning the authorities here said people trapped in their homes were calling them for help and in many cases they just calling them for help and in many cases theyjust couldn t reach them. those who did make it out came to shelters like this. we met him here he and his wife were winched to safety last night. he arrived barefoot and soaking wet. what were you thinking as they winced you up? i ask. i thinking as they winced you up? iask. i had thinking as they winced you up? i ask. i had to leave my man, he says. he has lived here for more than 70 years. there ve been floods he