The death toll in floods in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia has increased to 43, officials said, pushing the total number of fatalities in Germany and Belgium above 100.
Rescuers are scrambling to find survivors and rescue people trapped in houses at risk of collapse.
Hundreds of people are still missing and thousands are homeless after days of heavy storms that caused flash floods across western Germany and Belgium.
In a provisional tally, the Belgian death toll has risen to 12, with five people still missing, local authorities and media reported early on Friday.
The flash floods this week followed days of heavy rainfall which turned streams and streets into raging torrents that swept away cars and caused houses to collapse across the region.
5. Damaged cars lie on the banks of the Ahr river in Schuld, Germany, Friday, July 16, 2021.
Two days before the Ahr river went over the banks after strong rain falls causing severals deaths and hundreds of people missing. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) Photo: Michael Probst
6. A woman stands under an umbrella as she looks at an Belgian army vehicle overturned in a ditch of water near the town of Rochefort on July 16, 2021.
A woman stands under an umbrella as she looks at an Belgian army vehicle overturned in a ditch of water near the town of Rochefort on July 16, 2021. - The death toll from devastating floods in Europe soared to at least 108 on July 16, 2021 Photo: JOHN THYS
7. Rail workers stand near a derailed carriage belonging to the Belgium SNCB train service, the day after heavy rains and floods near the town of Rochefort on July 16, 2021.
Rail workers stand near a derailed carriage belonging to the Belgium SNCB train service, the day after heavy rains and floods near the town of Rochefort on July 16, 2021. - Photo: JOHN THYS
8. A crab walks on a road after flooding went back in Schuld, Germany, Friday, July 16, 2021.
A crab walks on a road after flooding went back in Schuld, Germany, Friday, July 16, 2021. Photo: Michael Probst