Advertisement

'National solidarity': Germany earmarks €30 billion to rebuild after deadly floods

AFP
AFP - [email protected]
'National solidarity': Germany earmarks €30 billion to rebuild after deadly floods
Flood damage in Altenburg, western Germany. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Thomas Frey

Germany will earmark up to €30 billion to rebuild after last month's deadly floods that washed away homes, offices and critical infrastructure, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday after talks with regional leaders.

Advertisement

The costs will be shared between the federal government and the 16 states, Merkel said, calling it a "sign of national solidarity".

At least 190 people lost their lives in severe floods that pummelled western Germany in mid-July, with the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia worst hit.

Underlining the scale of the destruction, NRW state premier Armin Laschet, the conservative frontrunner to succeed Merkel, said Monday his region has not
had to rebuild thousands of destroyed homes at once since World War II.

Advertisement

The catastrophe has also raised questions over whether enough was done to forewarn residents of the impeding disaster.

On Tuesday, Merkel and regional leaders agreed to improve the country's warning system, including by providing states with up to 88 million euros to upgrade and install sirens by 2023.

German prosecutors said last week they have launched an investigation against the district chief of the flood-hit region of Ahrweiler for negligence as warnings were made belatedly, resulting in the deaths of dozens of residents.

READ ALSO:

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also