After the flood in the Ahr Valley in July 2021, two people were still missing. One of the two was declared dead in July 2023, but he could not initially be found. During a garbage collection campaign on October 15th, human bones were discovered at the mouth of the Ahr near Sinzig.
According to the police, a DNA comparison in forensic medicine has now shown that they belong to one of the missing people. The Koblenz police headquarters did not say which of the two had now been identified and referred to the protection of relatives. They have been informed.
The site was flooded on the night of the flood and was difficult to access, the police said. That was also the reason for the garbage collection campaign.
Commission wants better cooperation between municipalities
On Monday, the Rhineland-Palatinate state parliament’s study commission on the Ahr Valley disaster presented its final report. In it, the members presented what measures could reduce the dangers posed by future extreme weather situations. Flood protection should be given greater consideration in building and land use planning in the future, explained Commission Chairwoman Lea Heidbreder (The Greens).
The report also contains the recommendation to restore natural river courses and to improve local cooperation in disaster protection. The CDU called for grants to the municipalities for disaster control and at the same time expressed doubts as to whether Rhineland-Palatinate had really taken all the necessary measures to prevent a repeat of the mistakes made in the Ahr Valley disaster.
In the heavy rain disaster on the night of July 14th to 15th, 2021, 135 people died in the Ahr Valley alone. The flood wave caused massive destruction in the towns along the river.