6 People Die From Flooding in Germany, Dozens of More

At least six people have lost their lives, and dozens of others have disappeared in Germany after torrential rains turned roads into raging streams, taking the cars ahead and causing several buildings to collapse.

Police in the western town of Koblenz said Thursday that four people had died in Ahrweiler County, and about 50 were stranded on the roofs of their homes pending rescue.

Authorities have declared an emergency in the region after days of heavy rainfall. Large parts of western and central Germany, as well as neighboring countries, have suffered major damage.

Police said an 82-year-old died after a fall in his flooded basement in the western town of Wuppertal, which was among the most hit.

A fireman drowned on Wednesday during rescue work in the western German town of Altena, and another man had disappeared in the eastern town of Joehstad after he disappeared while trying to secure his landfill property, authorities said.

The ruthless nighttime rains exacerbated flood conditions in eastern Belgium, where one person was reported drowning and at least another had disappeared. / Top-Channel