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yesterday

Torrential Rains Flood Western Germany and Luxembourg, Forcing Evacuations

Overnight downpours in North Rhine-Westphalia plus parts of Luxembourg led to mass rescues with major traffic closures, emergency crews said.

Überflutete Straßen nach einem Unwetter (Symbolfoto).
Image

Overview

  • Authorities confirmed extreme local totals, including 134 liters per square meter in Bedburg and more than 100 in Livange and Mersch in Luxembourg.
  • Fire services evacuated about 200 residents in Willich along the Niers, rescued 14 people in Bedburg, and freed a family from a flooded apartment in Mönchengladbach.
  • Transport was severely disrupted as an A46 tunnel in Düsseldorf flooded and a truck likely aquaplaned and overturned on the A4 near Frechen, causing long jams.
  • THW and fire brigades conducted large-scale pumping at over 100 sites and set up temporary shelter, with initial reports indicating no injuries.
  • The DWD later downgraded some alerts as the system moved on after issuing a severe warning for Ahrweiler, while Rheinland-Pfalz advanced a draft water law to strengthen flood preparedness.