German Home Secretary dismisses criticism of lack of flood warnings

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On July 19, 2021, people work in Bad Mnstereifel, Germany, in an area affected by heavy rain.Reuters / Wolfgang Latai

July 19, 2021

German Steinbach Dam (Reuters) – German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has dismissed criticism that the government failed to warn residents of last week’s deadly flooding, killing more than 160 people. than in Germany.

“It is totally unthinkable to centrally manage such a disaster from anywhere. It requires local knowledge, ”he told reporters on Monday.

European floods that started on Wednesday mainly affected German Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia and parts of Belgium.

The whole community was cut off without electricity or communication. Residents were trapped inside their homes by flash floods and many homes collapsed.

Seehofer visited Steinbach Tardam on Monday. The dam was in danger of breaking for several days. He will later visit the most devastating district of Ahrweiler south of Cologne, where at least 117 people were killed.

(Reuters TV report, written by Maria Sheehan, edited by Kirsti Knoll)

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