• The flooded streets of Valkenburg, the Netherlands.
    The flooded streets of Valkenburg, the Netherlands.
  • Destruction in Erftstadt-Blessem in Germany after heavy rains triggered severe flooding. At least 81 people were killed and hundreds more are missing.
    Destruction in Erftstadt-Blessem in Germany after heavy rains triggered severe flooding. At least 81 people were killed and hundreds more are missing.
  • A woman assesses the damage caused by the flooding in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany.
    A woman assesses the damage caused by the flooding in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany.
  • Residents clean up after heavy rains caused severe flooding in Ensival, Verviers, Belgium.
    Residents clean up after heavy rains caused severe flooding in Ensival, Verviers, Belgium.
  • A car was washed away and and came to rest against a tree in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, western Germany.
    A car was washed away and and came to rest against a tree in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, western Germany.
  • Buildings are destroyed in the village of Schuld after heavy flooding of the River Ahr in Germany.
    Buildings are destroyed in the village of Schuld after heavy flooding of the River Ahr in Germany.
  • Another image of Schuld shows the levels of destruction.
    Another image of Schuld shows the levels of destruction.
  • Torrents of water threw vehicles into a heap in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany.
    Torrents of water threw vehicles into a heap in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany.
  • Rubber dinghies come in handy after the River Meuse burst its banks in Liege, Belgium..
    Rubber dinghies come in handy after the River Meuse burst its banks in Liege, Belgium..
  • Members of the fire department wade through the water to inspect the damage in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany.
    Members of the fire department wade through the water to inspect the damage in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany.
  • Dutch National Reserve Corps stack bags of sand to build a barrier against the floods in Wessem, the Netherlands.
    Dutch National Reserve Corps stack bags of sand to build a barrier against the floods in Wessem, the Netherlands.
  • An aerial view shows an area completely destroyed by the floods in the Blessem district of Erftstadt, western Germany.
    An aerial view shows an area completely destroyed by the floods in the Blessem district of Erftstadt, western Germany.
  • A woman is carried through a flooded street in Angleur, Belgium.
    A woman is carried through a flooded street in Angleur, Belgium.
  • Substantial flooding near the Limburg hamlet of Aasterberg, the Netherlands, after water levels of the River Meuse rose.
    Substantial flooding near the Limburg hamlet of Aasterberg, the Netherlands, after water levels of the River Meuse rose.
  • A fire department vehicle is stuck in a damaged street in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany.
    A fire department vehicle is stuck in a damaged street in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany.
  • A damaged car is hoisted during the clean-up operation in Hagen, Germany..
    A damaged car is hoisted during the clean-up operation in Hagen, Germany..

UAE

Government

UAE leaders offer condolences to Germany after floods kill more than 150

Major flooding devastates parts of western Europe

Anam Rizvi
Anam Rizvi

July 17, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

The President, Sheikh Khalifa, has sent messages of condolences to German leaders after severe flooding led to the death of more than 150 people.

Sheikh Khalifa sent the note to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Angela Merkel, the German chancellor.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, also sent messages of sympathy and concern.

More than 150 people have died and hundreds are missing after major flooding swamped parts of western Europe.

The hardest hit areas were in western Germany, where most of the deaths were reported.

Around 1,000 German soldiers were deployed to help with rescue operations and rubble-clearing.

Streets and houses were under water, cars overturned and trees uprooted, while some districts were cut off by landslides.

The floods disrupted rail, road and river transport in Germany's most populous region.


Updated: July 17, 2021, 9:43 AM
GermanyUAE