The Berchtesgaden area also is the home of the sliding track in Koenigssee, the site of major international bobsled, skeleton and luge events for more than 50 years. At least one person was killed and the rail line to Berchtesgaden was closed. There was flooding Saturday night in the German-Czech border area, in Germany’s southeastern corner, and over the border in Austria.Ībout 130 people were evacuated in Germany’s Berchtesgaden area after the Ache River swelled. “This flood will leave scars on the people of Schuld - scars that you don’t forget, that can’t be overcome, because our lives changed from one day to the next,” Mayor Helmut Lussi said, breaking into sobs as he spoke.Īlthough the rain has stopped in the worst-affected areas of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, storms and downpours have persisted elsewhere in western and central Europe. Residents in the devastated areas will be needing support and comfort for a long time yet. “One flood isn’t the example of climate change, but if we look at the loss events of recent years, decades, then they are simply more frequent than they were previously - so we must make a great effort,” Merkel said. Investing in fighting climate change is expensive, she said, but failing to do so is even more costly. “And nevertheless, the second lesson is that we must pay great attention to adaptation” to climate change. “We must get faster in the battle against climate change,” Merkel said, pointing to policies already set in motion by Germany and the European Union to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists can’t yet say for sure whether climate change caused the flooding, but they insist that it certainly exacerbates the extreme weather disasters on display around the world. That will be necessary too.”Ĭlimate scientists say the link between extreme weather and global warming is unmistakable and the urgency to tackle climate change undeniable. “Germany is a strong country and we will stand up to this force of nature in the short term - but also in the medium and long term, through policy that pays more regard to nature and the climate than we did in recent years. “Thankfully, Germany is a country that can manage this financially,” said Merkel, who is stepping down as chancellor following an election in September.
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