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.
13. Debris of collapsed houses is pictures in the Blessem district of Erftstadt, Germany, Friday, July 16, 2021.
Heavy rains caused mudslides and flooding in the western part of Germany. Multiple have died and dozens are missing as severe flooding in Germany and Belgium turned streams and streets into raging, debris-filled torrents that swept away cars and toppled houses. (David Young/dpa via AP) Photo: David Young
14. The river Ahr passes the village of Schuld, Germany, Friday, July 16, 2021 the day after the flood disaster. Heavy rains caused mudslides and flooding in the western part of Germany. Multiple have died and dozens are missing as severe flooding in Germany and Belgium turned streams and streets into raging, debris-filled torrents that swept away cars and toppled houses. (Thomas Frey/dpa via AP)
The river Ahr passes the village of Schuld, Germany, Friday, July 16, 2021 the day after the flood disaster. Heavy rains caused mudslides and flooding in the western part of Germany. Multiple have died and dozens are missing as severe flooding in Germany and Belgium turned streams and streets into raging, debris-filled torrents that swept away cars and toppled houses. (Thomas Frey/dpa via AP) Photo: Thomas Frey
15. Damage left after a tornado touched down in a neighborhood of Barrie, Ontario, on Thursday, July 15, 2021. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Damage left after a tornado touched down in a neighborhood of Barrie, Ontario, on Thursday, July 15, 2021. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP) Photo: Christopher Katsarov
16. A resident surveys the damage left after a tornado touched down in his neighborhood, in Barrie, Ontario, on Thursday, July 15, 2021. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
A resident surveys the damage left after a tornado touched down in his neighborhood, in Barrie, Ontario, on Thursday, July 15, 2021. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP) Photo: Christopher Katsarov