During her visit, Merkel promised that the government would not abandon locals who lost their homes and businesses. Villages along the river Ahr were the hardest hit in July's deadly floods.
Angela Merkel and regional leader Malu Dreyer (third from left in the foreground) survey damage in the Ahr valleyImage: Markus Schreiber/dpa/picture alliance
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Seven weeks after deadly floods swept through the region, German Chancellor Angela Merkel made her second visit to the Ahr Valley, speaking to victms and surveying the clear-up operation.
"We will not forget you," Merkel said. Referring to Germany's upcoming federal election, she added that "the next federal government will take over" with the repair and reconstruction efforts.
Ahr valley suffered majority of casualties
Before the July floods, the Ahr Valley in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate was known for its vineyards and scenic hiking. Several of the villages date back to the medieval period or even earlier, with many houses and businesses sitting directly on the banks of the Ahr river.
The Ahr burst its banks after a month of unusually heavy rains, exacerbated by climate change. Local leaders were heavily criticized for not adequately preparing residents despite weeks of downpours that increased the likelihood of flooding.
German businesses struggle after major flood
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Of the more than 180 people that died in Germany during the floods, 133 perished in the Ahr Valley.
Visiting the village of Altenahr-Altenburg alongside Rhineland-Palatinate leader Malu Dreyer, Merkel said she was encouraged by the success of the clean-up operation so far.
DW's Sabine Kinkartz was also in Altenburg, where she said traumatized residents were lobbying Dreyer and Merkel to stop local authorities from demolishing their damaged homes:
Dreyer thanked Merkel, saying her visit was a "strong signal" to the people of her state that the government had not abandoned them.
Earlier this week, Merkel's cabinet approved a €30 billion (roughly $35 billion) aid package to help town governments, individuals, businesses, and other institutions recoup the costs of damage and rebuilding. It is expected to be approved next week by the Bundesrat, the upper house of Germany's parliament.
Germany's floods: Help is on the way
Large-scale rescue operations continue around the clock as receding floodwaters reveal the scope of damage wreaked upon the western German states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.
Image: Bernd Lauter/AFP/Getty Images
One of the worst natural disasters in Germany's living memory
About 200 people have been reported dead and scores more are missing after torrential rain and floods swept across Western Europe, with Germany bearing the brunt of one of its biggest natural disasters in recent decades. Rescue operations continue in the country's hardest-hit cities and towns. Victims are now beginning to deal with the debris from damage to buildings and houses.
Image: Ferdinand Merzbach/AFP/Getty Images
Houses turning into deathtraps
The situation in some districts in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is still critical, others are assessing damage as floodwaters recede. Leaking gas pipes and structural damage to buildings across the state have turned some sites into death traps and the debris has to be removed quickly to avoid further safety threats.
Image: Miodrag Soric/DW
Clearing the way for rescuers
With the death toll has reached near 200, thousands of volunteers, firefighters and some 900 army personnel have joined the clean-up and salvage operations. There are fears that more victims could be found as waters recede and begin to reveal the true toll the storm took on everything in its path.
Image: Ina Fassbender/AFP
Rescuing residents stranded in flooded buildings
Some people were trapped in buildings likely to collapse at any second for hours. In towns such as Schuld and Heimerzheim floodwaters destroyed roads and railroad tracks, cutting off residents from the outside world. In extreme cases, police, fire and rescue, and armed forces units had to airlift residents from rooftops by helicopter.
Image: Marius Becker/dpa/picture alliance
Flood tourists not welcome
While rescue workers are exhausted from grueling and deadly round-the-clock work, police have warned against "flood tourism" — telling outsiders to stay away. "They make affected residents feel like they are in a zoo," as Lars Brummer of the Koblenz Police Department told regional public broadcaster SWR. "They can also hinder rescue workers."
Image: Jochen Tack/dpa/picture alliance
Help underway
Hundreds of families have lost everything and become displaced. The cities of Cologne and Bonn in North Rhine-Westphalia have set up emergency accommodations for evacuees on Friday. aid organizations have begun collecting donations and recruiting volunteers for what will be massive repair operations.
Image: Harald Tittel/dpa/picture alliance
Immense financial loss
Local media have reported catastrophic damage to infrastructure, public property and private businesses. Rhineland-Palatinate Finance Minister Doris Ahnen promised tax waivers to flood victims. At a time when the coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate the livelihood of many families in Germany, some victims might need much more than that to get back on their feet again.
