Status: 07/19/2021 5:13 p.m.
More than 100 vehicles had been surprised by the flood on Bundesstraße 265 near Erftstadt. Now it has been completely cleared – without any further fatalities being found. There is concern about further landslides in the village.
All vehicles trapped by the flood were recovered from the flooded Bundesstraße 265 near Erftstadt in North Rhine-Westphalia. Fortunately, the dead have not yet been discovered, said a spokesman for the Rhein-Erft district. However, there is still a rain retention basin near the road that is still being pumped out.
As the city of Erftstadt announced on its Facebook page, five more vehicles were to be recovered from the basin during the day. At the same time, the city declared: “Fortunately, no people were found in the vehicles there.”
More than 100 vehicles were trapped in the flood on the B265. The Rhein-Erft district had stated that it was unclear whether all the occupants had made it out of their cars in time when they were surprised by the masses of water.
Blocking of the A1 and A61
Other parts of the transport infrastructure in the immediate vicinity of Erftstadt were also damaged by the flood. According to the Autobahn GmbH, there is still a full blockage of the A1 in the direction of Koblenz between the Cologne-West motorway junction and the Erfttal motorway triangle, as well as a full block of the A1 in the direction of Dortmund between the Erfttal motorway triangle and the Hürth junction. There is also still a bottleneck on the A1 in the direction of Koblenz between the Cologne-Lövenich and Cologne-Bocklemünd junctions. The A61, which connects to the A1 at Erftstadt, is fully closed in both directions between the Kerpen and Meckenheim motorway junctions.
A spokesman for Autobahn GmbH was unable to provide precise information on the expected duration of the repairs. But it is probably about several months.
Further landslides at the crater possible
The salvage work continues in Erftstadt. According to the Rhein-Erft district, no fatalities from the flood disaster have been found in the particularly badly hit Erftstadt district of Blessem. 29 people are still missing, said the spokesman for the circle.
In Blessem, a huge landslide had swept away streets and houses as a result of the storm. According to the city, the district is now cleared. On Sunday evening, the emergency services went through the houses. Pets were found and rescued – people were not found.
The break-off edge at the edge of the crater is still considered a risk zone, there is an acute danger to life. Although the gravel pit behind Blessem was largely cordoned off, Mayor Carolin Weitzel said WDR. However, further slipping of earth masses is possible at any time. The affected districts would be permanently monitored with drones. Geological investigations were carried out at the same time. “As soon as the place is classified as accessible, tests of the statics begin,” said Weitzel.
Emergency aid from the community for flood victims
The municipality of Erftstadt has already paid 600,000 euros in emergency aid to the residents affected by the flood – 200 euros per capita. The city shared that WDR With. Currently only the citizens of Blessem are eligible. The 200 euros are only initial emergency aid, according to the community. Financial aid for reconstruction has already been discussed with the state and the Federal President.