At least 55 people have died due to severe flooding in Western Europe, caused by what experts described as the heaviest rainfall in a century.
In Germany, about 1,300 people are "assumed" missing in the district of Ahrweiler, which is in Rhineland-Palatinate state, the local government said.
Flash floods swept across western and southern parts of the country, causing buildings to collapse, police said Thursday. Germany is worst hit with 49 people killed, while six people died in Belgium. Luxembourg and the Netherlands are also affected.
