Deadly floods swept Germany and Belgium July 15, 2021. More than 100 people have died and nearly 1,300 are missing.
Fast-moving water currents inundated entire towns and villages. The raging water swept away cars and caused houses to collapse.
Many states in Germany experienced 100-150 milliliters of rainfall in just 24 hours. At least 30 people have been found dead in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state.
Belgium was also hit hard by the floods and at least 11 people were killed. The flood also disrupted Infrabel, the national railway network of Belgium.
The European Union also started its civil emergency response mechanism to help areas affected by floods. Climate change could cause extreme rainfall as warmer air can hold more water vapor. These high-energy systems can cause sudden summer rain which can lead to floods.