At least 40 killed in heavy flooding in Germany

At least 40 people have been killed and more are missing after heavy flooding hit Germany and Belgium.

Storms in Europe caused reservoirs to break open and flash flooding to occur, collapsing some buildings and trapping people on other roofs, The Associated Press reported.

Authorities say eights deaths occurred in the German region of Euskirchen, 18 died in Ahrweiler county and 70 are missing from the village of Schuld.

Multiple houses collapsed in the village of Schuld and others are trapped on their roofs as German officials have deployed 200 soldiers to help with rescue efforts.

Belgium media outlets are reporting four people died in eastern Verviers.

“My sympathy goes to the relatives and of the dead and missing,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, according to the AP.

Phone and internet connections have been severed in parts of Germany, making rescue operations more difficult.

It is not clear how much damage has been done as people have been found dead as the water in the streets lowered, the AP noted. 

“My thoughts are with the families of the victims of the devastating floods in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands and those who have lost their homes,” EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted. “The EU is ready to help.”

–Updated at 10:37 a.m.