TẬP SAN PHẬT HỌC TỊNH QUANG: TỪ SỐ 1 (2006) - ĐẾN SỐ 30 (2016)

TẬP SAN PHẬT HỌC TỊNH QUANG: TỪ SỐ 1 (2006) - ĐẾN SỐ 30 (2016)
TẬP SAN PHẬT HỌC TỊNH QUANG: TỪ SỐ 1 (2006) - ĐẾN SỐ 30 (2016)

Thursday 15 July 2021

EUROPE FLOOD - THIÊN TAI LŨ LỤT

https://phtq-canada.blogspot.com/2021/07/europe-thien-tai-lu-lut.html

Flash flood chaos in Europe: At least 67 dead across Germany and Belgium and scores more missing as buildings are destroyed and families left trapped on rooftops after heavy rain strikes the continent

  • Torrential downpours struck parts of Europe overnight, triggering flash flooding after days of heavy rain
  • 45 people died in Germany alone with 70 missing across North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhine Palatinate states
  • Town of Schuld, south of Bonn, particularly hard-hit after six homes were swept away and others damaged 
  • Eight people reported dead in Belgium while a 15-year-old girl is missing after floods in the country's east
  • Evacuations  also underway in Netherlands, Switzerland and Luxembourg after rivers burst their banks
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At least 67 people have died and at least 70 are missing after torrential rain triggered some of Europe's deadliest flooding in years - with homes and cars swept away in Germany and parts of Belgium.

Hardest-hit was western Germany where at least 45 people were killed, spread across its most-populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia and neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate.

The town of Schuld, south of Bonn, was particularly badly affected - with at least 18 killed there and in the nearby town of Ahrweiler with dozens missing when the Ahr river burst its banks and swept away homes even as people sheltered on their rooftops. 

Fifteen people also died in the Euskirchen region while two firefighters were killed elsewhere during rescue efforts, with 300 soldiers deployed to help rescue teams today along with helicopters and inflatable boats.

Malu Dreyer, premier of Rhineland-Palatinate state, described the situation as 'a catastrophe', adding: 'There are dead, missing and many still in danger. Our emergency services are in action... and risking their own lives.' 

It marks Germany's deadliest flooding in decades - the closest comparable tragedy struck in 2002 when 21 died in the country, with more than 100 killed in Europe as a whole.  

German authorities estimate at least 59 people died in the floods and Belgian media reported eight deaths in the country including two men who were swept away in the flooding while a 15-year-old girl was also reported missing. Ten houses collapsed near Verviers after the river Vesdre flooded, with residents evacuated from more than 1,000 homes.

Belgian authorities also ordered those living along the waterfront in Liege to evacuate as water levels rose.

'We have rarely experienced such intense flooding. You have to go back to 1998 to have experienced this,' mayor of nearby Chaudefontaine Daniel Bacquelaine told RTL radio. 

Residents of South Limburg, in the Netherlands, also had to be evacuated after flooding there overnight, though no casualties were reported. 

Flooding also hit Switzerland as rivers burst their banks, while similar scenes played out in Luxembourg. French forecasters also issued severe weather warnings for the east of the country today. 

GERMANY: At least four people died and dozens more are missing after flooding destroyed large parts of the town of Sculd

GERMANY: At least four people died and dozens more are missing after flooding destroyed large parts of the town of Sculd

GERMANY: Debris from destroyed houses is seen strewn through the city of Schuld after it was hit by flooding overnight

GERMANY: Debris from destroyed houses is seen strewn through the city of Schuld after it was hit by flooding overnight

GERMANY: Debris lay in a street after the floods caused major damage in Schuld near Bad Neuenahr, western GermanyGERMANY: Debris lay in a street after the floods caused major damage in Schuld near Bad Neuenahr, western Germany
GERMANY: The village of Schuld (pictured) was partially destroyed by flooding overnight that swept away six homes killing at least four people - though dozens more have been reported missing
GERMANY: The village of Schuld (pictured) was partially destroyed by flooding overnight that swept away six homes killing at least four people - though dozens more have been reported missing
GERMANY: Schuld was badly damaged after the Ahr river which flows around it burst its banks, sending torrents of water through the streets which then swept away houses and cars
GERMANY: Schuld was badly damaged after the Ahr river which flows around it burst its banks, sending torrents of water through the streets which then swept away houses and cars
GERMANY: The village of Schuld in the district of Ahrweiler is destroyed after heavy flooding of the river Ahr
GERMANY: The village of Schuld in the district of Ahrweiler is destroyed after heavy flooding of the river Ahr
The entire village of Schuld in the district of Ahrweiler is destroyed after heavy flooding of the river Ahr,
The entire village of Schuld in the district of Ahrweiler is destroyed after heavy flooding of the river Ahr,
GERMANY: A digger moves debris including a smashed-up car after heavy flooding hit Schuld, in western Germany
GERMANY: A digger moves debris including a smashed-up car after heavy flooding hit Schuld, in western Germany
GERMANY: A pile of debris including a battered car is seen in the middle of the street in Schuld after it was hit by floods
GERMANY: A pile of debris including a battered car is seen in the middle of the street in Schuld after it was hit by floods
BELGIUM: A woman wades through a flooded street in Liege after heavy rains hit the area and caused widespread flooding
BELGIUM: People evacuate their flooded homes in the city of Liege, Belgium, after torrential rains left their street underwater
BELGIUM: People evacuate their flooded homes in the city of Liege, Belgium, after torrential rains left their street underwater
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima are examining the damage caused by the storm in Valkenburg in recent days
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima are examining the damage caused by the storm in Valkenburg in recent days
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima visit the flooding in Valkenburg and the damage it caused
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima visit the flooding in Valkenburg and the damage it caused 
A car is flooded with water after the storm that hit Valkenburg in South Limburg
A car is flooded with water after the storm that hit Valkenburg in South Limburg
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima are on a visit examining the damage in the town
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima are on a visit examining the damage in the town 
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima are helped on to an emergency service vehicle during a visit to Valkenburg
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima are helped on to an emergency service vehicle during a visit to Valkenburg
The streets in the town are completely flooded following a horrific storm in the area
The streets in the town are completely flooded following a horrific storm in the area 
In South Limburg, problems have arisen in many places due to the heavy rainfall and high water levels
In South Limburg, problems have arisen in many places due to the heavy rainfall and high water levels

Pensioner Annemarie Mueller, 65, looking out at her flooded garden and garage from her balcony, said her town of Mayen had been completely unprepared for the destruction.

'Where did all this rain come from? It's crazy,' she told AFP, recalling the floodwater crashing through her street during the night.

'It made such a loud noise and given how fast it came down, we thought it would break the door down.'

Chancellor Angela Merkel, on a visit to Washington, said she was 'shocked' by the humanitarian 'disaster', calling it a 'tragedy' for the nation.

She vowed that the government would do 'everything in its power to, under the most difficult circumstances, save lives, prevent danger and ease suffering'.

North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) premier Armin Laschet, who is running to succeed Merkel in September elections, cancelled a party meeting in Bavaria to survey the damage in his state, Germany's most populous.

'We will stand by the towns and people who've been affected,' Laschet, clad in rubber boots, told reporters in the town of Hagen.

He called for 'speeding up' global efforts to fight climate change, underlining the link between global warming and extreme weather.

Because a warmer atmosphere holds more water, climate change increases the risk and intensity of flooding from extreme rainfall. 

Nineteen bodies were recovered in the region around the western town of Ahrweiler alone, with up to 70 people missing, a police spokesman told AFP.

Farther north, the district of Euskirchen in NRW reported 15 dead. Four more victims were found in the municipality of Schuld south of Bonn where six houses were swept away by floods.

Several other bodies were recovered from flooded cellars across the region.

The environment ministry in Rhineland-Palatinate state warned it expected floodwaters on the Rhine and Moselle rivers to rise with more rainfall. In NRW and Rhineland-Palatinate, some 200,000 households were without power.

Police set up a crisis hotline for reporting missing loved ones and residents were asked to send in videos and photos that could help them in the search.

Regional official Juergen Pfoehler in Ahrweiler urged people to stay home 'and, if possible, go to higher floors' of their houses.

The German military deployed some 400 soldiers across the two affected states to assist in rescue efforts.

In the city of Leverkusen, a power outage triggered by the storms led to the evacuation of a hospital with 468 patients. 

Belgium has also seen several days of heavy rain that has caused rivers in the French-speaking region of Wallonia to burst their banks. Four were reported dead.

The provinces of Liege and Namur were especially affected, with the resort town of Spa completely flooded.

Residents in Liege were told Thursday to urgently evacuate neighbourhoods near the banks of the Meuse river.

In the town of Chaudfontaine, daily Le Soir reported that nearly 1,800 people had to evacuate.

The country's Infrabel rail network said it was suspending services in the southern half of the country, given the risks to travel.

Meanwhile Dutch safety workers have evacuated hundreds of homes in the southern town of Roermond.

Officials also closed off several roads including the busy A2 highway, while fears remained that water from heavy rains in Germany and Belgium would push up river levels as it reached the Netherlands. The Luxembourg government set up a crisis cell to respond to emergencies triggered by heavy rains overnight as Prime Minister Xavier Bettel reported 'several homes' had been flooded and were 'no longer inhabitable'. 

NETHERLANDS: The fire brigade evacuate people from their homes in South Limburg, the Netherlands, after towns were flooded amid torrential rain
NETHERLANDS: The fire brigade evacuate people from their homes in South Limburg, the Netherlands, after towns were flooded amid torrential rain
SWITZERLAND: People rush to remove their belongings from a flooded campsite in Ottenbach after the nearby Reuss river burst its banks amid heavy downpours
SWITZERLAND: People rush to remove their belongings from a flooded campsite in Ottenbach after the nearby Reuss river burst its banks amid heavy downpours
SWITZERLAND: The village square of Stansstad, near the city of Lucerne, is seen underwater with residents forced to walk across raised platforms after heavy rain hit Europe
SWITZERLAND: The village square of Stansstad, near the city of Lucerne, is seen underwater with residents forced to walk across raised platforms after heavy rain hit Europe
SWITZERLAND: Tents and caravans stand on the flooded Reussbruecke campsite, in Ottenbach, Switzerland
SWITZERLAND: Tents and caravans stand on the flooded Reussbruecke campsite, in Ottenbach, Switzerland
An armoured vehicle rolls through the streets close to Hagen, Germany, after the army was drafted in to help flood victims
An armoured vehicle rolls through the streets close to Hagen, Germany, after the army was drafted in to help flood victims
A car is seen covered in rubble in the German town of Hagen, south of Dortmund, after it was hit by flooding overnight
A car is seen covered in rubble in the German town of Hagen, south of Dortmund, after it was hit by flooding overnight
Damaged cars are seen along a street in Hagen, western Germany, after flooding washed tons of rubble down the street
Damaged cars are seen along a street in Hagen, western Germany, after flooding washed tons of rubble down the street
Debris of houses and cars after flooding in Schuld, Germany
Debris of houses and cars after flooding in Schuld, Germany
Trash is pictured following heavy rainfalls in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany
Trash is pictured following heavy rainfalls in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany
Piles of debris and rubbish has collected in masses after the flooding in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler
Piles of debris and rubbish has collected in masses after the flooding in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler
A woman cleans a shop entrance after flooding in the town of Bad Muenstereifel, south of the city of Bonn and located along the banks of the Erft river
A woman cleans a shop entrance after flooding in the town of Bad Muenstereifel, south of the city of Bonn and located along the banks of the Erft river
Emergency crews join the cleanup operation after downpours overnight in Hagen, Germany, triggered flash flooding
Emergency crews join the cleanup operation after downpours overnight in Hagen, Germany, triggered flash flooding
Damaged houses are seen along the Ahr river in Insul, western Germany, after it broke its banks overnight
Damaged houses are seen along the Ahr river in Insul, western Germany, after it broke its banks overnight
Due to heavy rain falls the Ahr river dramatically went over its banks overnight Wednesday, demolishing nearby homes
Due to heavy rain falls the Ahr river dramatically went over its banks overnight Wednesday, demolishing nearby homes 
A damaged car is seen in Insul at the Ahr river, western Germany, after being swept away in the flood
A damaged car is seen in Insul at the Ahr river, western Germany, after being swept away in the flood
A car rests on its roof after being swept away in floodwaters at Insul, on the banks of the Ahr river, Germany
A car rests on its roof after being swept away in floodwaters at Insul, on the banks of the Ahr river, Germany
The village of Schuld was among the worst-hit overnight with dozens reported missing after houses there collapsed
The village of Schuld was among the worst-hit overnight with dozens reported missing after houses there collapsed
An overturned tractor and wrecked Mercedes are among debris left strewn through the city of Schuld after it was hit by floods
An overturned tractor and wrecked Mercedes are among debris left strewn through the city of Schuld after it was hit by floods
Local residents inspect collapsed houses after heavy flooding of the river Ahr, in Schuld, Germany
Local residents inspect collapsed houses after heavy flooding of the river Ahr, in Schuld, Germany
A gnome is seen perched on top of a pile of debris after it buried a car in Hagen, western Germany, overnight
A gnome is seen perched on top of a pile of debris after it buried a car in Hagen, western Germany, overnight
The worst-hit areas were in western Germany, where torrential rain and flash flooding caused rivers to burst their banks and sweep away houses killing at least 42
The worst-hit areas were in western Germany, where torrential rain and flash flooding caused rivers to burst their banks and sweep away houses killing at least 42

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