Cars, homes swept away, more than 100 dead, many still missing after catastrophic flooding in Europe

Germany flooding

Germany saw its worst mass loss of life in years as floods killed more than 100 people.  Record rainfall has caused deadly flooding across Western Germany, The Netherlands, and Belgium.

Torrential rains and rushing waters swallowed whole towns cutting villages off from rescuers leading to a disaster in Europe.  Some residents are describing the situation as apocalyptic.

In Western Germany three months of rain fell in just 24 hours.  Everything was underwater in just 15 minutes.  They had chest high water in the midst of the storm.  

Water started bursting over riverbanks due to constant rain and water kept rising throughout the night. Residents said things happened very suddenly and so fast they've never seen anything like it.

Cars and home were swept away after days of rain led to rivers overflowing.  Roads were blocked by wreckage and fallen trees.

Search and rescue efforts are ongoing.  Local authorities are saying that at least 1,300 people are still missing.

More than 1,000 soldiers have been deployed to help with rescue and clear-up operations. Helicopter's have been busy rescuing people stranded on rooftops.

Problems at the moment is that power networks are down, phone networks are down, there's virtually no internet connectivity.  Germany's biggest power distributor company said about 200,000 homes lost electricity.  The road networks, transport links are all interrupted.

Floodwaters streamed through towns in Belgium forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate. Residents have been told that their house could collapse and so they have to leave.

Emergency workers set up sandbags and inflatable flood barriers in Switzerland as Lake Lucerne reached dangerous water levels.

The Netherlands has also been badly affected by flash floods.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel vowed support for the victims.

"I grieve for the people who've lost their lives. We don't know the number but it will be many. Some in the basement of their houses and some who are working as firefighters trying to bring others to safety," Merkel said.

Germany's Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz blamed the floods on climate change.