German floods have killed at least 133 people, Reuters continues to look for survivors

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Rescue workers scoured neighbors devastated by West Germany’s floods to survive on Saturday, as water levels remain high in several towns and homes continue to fall into the country’s worst natural disaster in half a century.

Police said on Saturday at least 133 people had been killed in the floods, including about 90 people in the Ahrweiler district of southern Cologne. Hundreds of people are still missing.

Authorities said about 700 people were evacuated late Friday after a dam exploded in the nearby town of Wassenberg.

Floods in recent days, especially in the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia, have cut off entire communities from power and communications.

The floods have also hit parts of Belgium and the Netherlands. At least 20 people have been killed in Belgium.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Armin Laschet were due to visit the towns of Erftstadt, one of the toughest towns, on Saturday.

Laschet is a candidate for the CDU party in the September general election. Flood destruction could intensify the debate over climate change ahead of the vote.

Scientists have long said that climate change will lead to more rain showers. It will take at least a few weeks to investigate its role in these ongoing storms, scientists said on Friday.