Europe flooding: Death toll reaches over 180 [Video]

• The severe flooding in Europe has claimed the lives of over 180 people as of Sunday: at least 157 in Germany and at least 31 in Belgium.
• German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited western Germany to meet survivors and survey the damage.
• Merkel attributed the extreme weather to climate change and called on everyone to “make a great effort.”

The severe flooding that has devastated Germany and other areas of Europe has claimed more than 180 lives as of Sunday.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited the village of Schuld in western Germany to meet with survivors and survey the damage.

“We must get faster in the battle against climate change,” Merkel declared during a press conference.

“One flood isn’t the example of climate change, but if we look at the loss events of recent years, decades, then they are simply more frequent than they were previously — so we must make a great effort,” she continued.

According to a report from The Associated Press, scientists are still hesitant to attribute the flooding to climate change. However, they believe that climate change had indeed worsened weather conditions.

Climate change has previously been linked to extreme downpours. But it will take weeks for experts to determine its role in the recent floods.

The flooding began on Wednesday and affected the European countries of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Reuters reported a death toll of at least 188.

According to the Reuters report, at least 157 deaths have been reported in Germany and at least 31 deaths in Belgium. There is still no electricity in several communities.

Merkel remarked, “It is shocking — I would almost say that the German language barely has words for the devastation that has been wreaked.”

Merkel assured citizens that her Cabinet will be approving a medium-term finance program on Wednesday to assist flood victims.

Source: The Hill