Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Federal President visits the flood areas
Frank-Walter Steinmeier (left) and Armin Laschet (center) in conversation with rescue workers.
© MARIUS BECKER / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the disaster region in North Rhine-Westphalia with Armin Laschet on Saturday.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (65, SPD) visited the disaster areas in North Rhine-Westphalia on Saturday. At the side of the NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet (60, CDU), he spoke to assistants in the particularly hard hit district of Rhein-Erft.
“Your fate tears our hearts apart,” said Steinmeier in a short address. He mourns with everyone who has lost their relatives, friends and acquaintances. In the direction of the helpers, Steinmeier added that he wanted to express a heartfelt thank you on behalf of all Germans. It is a time of need and in this “our country stands together”. The damage is great and the clean-up work will take a long time.
Chancellor Angela Merkel will also come on Sunday
Tomorrow, Sunday, Chancellor Angela Merkel (67, CDU) is expected in the crisis region in neighboring Rhineland-Palatinate. So far, more than 130 people have died as a result of the flood disaster in western Germany, and over 600 others have been injured, some seriously. Dozens more are still missing at the weekend.