A senior official from the Federal Technical Relief Service (THW) said on Wednesday that rescuers are unlikely to find more survivors in the ruins of villages destroyed by floods in western Germany.
The floods last week killed at least 170 people. This was the worst natural disaster in Germany in more than half a century. Thousands of people were missing.
THW Deputy Director Sabine Lackner told Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland: “We are still looking for missing people when we are clearing roads and pumping water from basements.”
She said that any other victims found now may have died.
According to a draft document seen by Reuters, in order to provide immediate relief, the federal government is expected to announce a plan to provide US$235.5 million in emergency assistance on Wednesday.
In addition, Germany’s 16 federal states will provide 200 million euros to repair buildings and damaged local infrastructure, and help people in crisis situations.
Economy Minister Peter Altmeier told Deutschlandfunk that the assistance will include funds to help businesses such as restaurants or hair salons make up for lost income.
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