9 Dead, 30 Missing in Germany as Houses Collapse in Floods

By Staff, Agencies

According to the newspaper Bild, citing police, at least 9 people died and 70 are missing after six houses collapsed in the western German city of Schuld, Rheinland-Pfalz. Reports said that heavy rains caused local rivers to break their banks, flooding the area, and resulting in the incident.

"There are many places where fire brigades and rescue workers have been deployed. We don't yet have a very precise picture because rescue measures are continuing", a police spokesperson said.

The German authorities are urging people to stay at home during the emergency.

Reports suggest that parts of the affected area are isolated by high waters and accessible only by air. The military had to be sent to the city of Hagen to clear some areas from debris amid the crisis. The regional capital Düsseldorf also had to evacuate one of its districts.