Heavy flooding hits western Europe

More than 60 people have died and dozens were missing in Germany and Belgium on Thursday following severe storms in the region. Rivers and reservoirs overflowed and sent flood water churning down village streets.

How bad is the damage? Flash floods caused many homes to collapse, particularly in villages with older houses of brick and timber. Rescue teams picked up stranded people from the roofs of their homes, and Germany has deployed hundreds of soldiers to support the efforts. In Belgium, water also covered major highways and halted trains in the south and east of the country. France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands also evacuated some areas. The full extent of the damage is still unclear because bodies can go undiscovered until flood water recedes. While rain has decreased across Germany, some rivers are likely to continue rising.