German armed forces deployed in Germany floods

One of the greatest storms of the post-war period wreaked havoc in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Over 80 people have died and many more are missing.

At least 850 men and women have been deployed to support the rescue work, according to a Bundeswehr spokesperson. About 230 soldiers equipped with two armored recovery vehicles, trucks, and wheel loaders, have been deployed in the Hagen area in Germany.

In Leverkusen, 200 soldiers are helping to fill sandbags and in Aachen, the rescue helicopter SAR was deployed. The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Aid (BBK) also supports the affected regions in Germany with satellite images, among other things.

"The first satellite images from the areas affected by the storm have been recorded this morning,” Vice President Thomas Herzog of the German editorial network told the Tagesschau. “These images will be made available to those involved in crisis management."

The BBK also led the coordination of aid, routing helicopters to rescue people or tapping points for the delivery of drinking water.