Heavy rains in Northern Europe cause floods

There was flooding in parts of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Heavy rains caused flooding in parts of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands overnight into Saturday, May 18, swamping streets and buildings and sparking evacuations.

In the southwestern German state of Saarland, streets were deep underwater and images on social media showed emergency workers carrying local residents to safety in boats. State capital Saarbrücken was hard hit.

No deaths were reported but at least one person was injured. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is due to visit the area later Saturday. Saarland state premier Anke Rehlinger described the situation as "very tense" and warned there could be widespread damage.

But the picture had improved early Saturday with a severe weather warning for the area lifted and water levels falling, said Saarbrücken Mayor Uwe Conradt. Hundreds of emergency service workers were still on the ground helping with the clean-up.

In Belgium, the province of Liège was hit by severe flooding, with authorities receiving hundreds of requests for assistance and 150 firefighters deployed, Governor Hervé Jamar said. The main help provided by emergency services was pumping water out of flooded buildings, he said.

Over the border in the Dutch province of Limburg, two campsites were evacuated early Saturday as they were threatened by rising floodwaters, officials said. Meanwhile, the Moselle area in France's northeast was placed on flood alert as water levels rose in rivers following heavy rains.

Le Monde with AFP

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