BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel has surveyed what she called a “surreal, ghostly” scene in a devastated village. She pledged quick financial aid and a redoubled political focus on curbing climate change as the death toll from last week’s floods in Western Europe climbed above 180. Merkel on Sunday toured Schuld, a village on the Ahr River in western Germany where many buildings were damaged or destroyed by rapidly rising floodwaters. Although Schuld had no deaths or injuries, other places weren’t so lucky. The death toll in the Ahrweiler area, where Schuld is located, stood at 112. With some people still missing, authorities fear the number of dead could rise.
Merkel tours ‘surreal’ flood scene, vows aid, climate action
