Number of dead passes 180 in unreal and horrific European floods - as hundreds of millions of Euros of support prepared

Rescue workers and volunteers are digging through sludge in parts of western Europe, where the number of people who died in flash floods is now over 180 - and as the rushing waters reach Austria.

Floodwaters are receding in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, where many have been left with wrecked homes, hundreds have been evacuated and officials continue to fret over the state of a major dam.

German finance minister Olaf Scholz is due to propose an immediate aid package on Wednesday, telling the German press that at least €300m (£257m) is needed.

However Sky Europe correspondent Adam Parsons reckons "it's going to take a lot more than that".

The number of dead now sits at 183, although there are fears this number could still rise higher as more bodies are expected to be found as the waters lower and reveal the extent of the devastation.

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The spotlight in many areas has shifted to handing out cash donations for people to buy urgently needed goods, provide accommodation and compensation for those left homeless, and to continue hunting for survivors.

Image: This bridge over the Ahr in Ahrweiler has been destroyed. Pic: AP Image: A partially collapsed house near the banks of the Ahr river in Altenahr. Pic: AP Image: German Chancellor Angela Merkel has visited the Rhineland-Palatinate region

In Germany - where at least 156 people have been killed - authorities are poised to deliver a comprehensive aid package, and Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Schuld in Rhineland-Palatinate, one of the worst-hit areas today.

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The chancellor was in the United States when the floods hit, but has now returned to her country.

Rhineland-Palatinate alone has reported 110 deaths.

Speaking next to Schuld's mayor, Mrs Merkel spoke of the "unreal and horrific situation" in the region saying there were "nearly no words in the German language for the horrific scenes".

Days of torrential rain left rivers overflowing, leading to water surging through streets - lifting up cars, tearing up power lines, and collapsing homes.

"A lot of people have lost everything they spent their lives building up - their possessions, their home, the roof over their heads," German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in the town of Erftstadt on Saturday.

"It may only be possible to clear up in weeks how much damage needs to be compensated.

"Many people here in these regions have nothing left but their hope, and we must not disappoint this hope."

Image: Frank-Walter Steinmeier and North Rhine-Westphalia premier Armin Laschet met rescuers in Erftstadt

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Clean-up starts as flood waters recede

Belgium's national crisis centre said at least 27 people had died there, while train lines and roads remain blocked in the east of the country.

A national day of morning will take place in the country on Tuesday.

Parts of the southern Netherlands were also affected, while the torrential rain reached Austria overnight and caused flooding in the town of Hallein, near the German border.

Soldiers, firefighters and civilian volunteers are working to reinforce dykes.

The focus is also turning to the rebuilding process - although questions are being raised about how this will go.

Speaking from Adenau in Germany, Adam Parsons said: "The question Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands will have to face is how do they rebuild?

"I think there will be plenty of people who say, 'what's the point in rebuilding houses on flood plains in these places?'

"I remember yesterday in the Netherlands we were in a town called Horn, and there was a house that had been built right next to the river.

Image: As the water recedes, rescuers are unearthing more stranded vehicles. Pic: AP Image: The clear-up is underway. Pic: AP

"Well, guess what? The river had burst its banks and the house was under many feet of water.

"We've seen that replicated across Belgium and here in Germany.

"So this is about rebuilding - but there is going to be a great swell of public opinion that it has to be built cleverer.

"It was in a town - Ophoven - yesterday which had flooded, and one of the residents I was talking to said that he blamed the fact that the river had been straightened.

"Now, clearly, there will be geographers out there who may disagree, but he said that meandering rivers carry less of a threat, and that actually this one had been artificially straightened.

Image: Hundreds of millions of Euros are expected to be needed for the clear-up. Pic: AP Image: There are concerns about how the towns and villages will be rebuilt. Pic: AP Image: Upside down cars in the Meuse River in Belgium. Pic: AP

"He said that is the reason why, in his opinion, the water had gushed through at such pace."

Sebastian Kurz, Austria's chancellor, tweeted that rain and storms were causing serious damage in several areas of the country.

"I thank all first responders and volunteers who are doing everything they can to help! We won't leave those affected alone and will support the reconstruction," he said.

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At least one death has been recorded in the Berchtesgaden region of Germany near Austria.

There are also reports of floods on the German-Czech border.

Fears remain of finding more people dead in Germany and Belgium, but the number unaccounted for has been dropping steadily.

Hundreds had been listed as missing in the immediate aftermath of the floods.

Much of that is now believed to have been down to factors such as confusion, multiple reporting, lost or uncharged mobile phones, and power and network outages.

Malu Dreyer, the minister-president of Rhineland-Palatinate, has said she we will not rest until all missing people are accounted for.

In Belgium 103 people were still listed as "missing or unreachable" on Saturday.

In Erftstadt, south of Cologne, one of the worst-affected towns, the German military have been using armoured vehicles to clear away damaged cars and trucks.

Image: The town of Erftstadt from above after a massive sinkhole appeared

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Aerial video shows havoc wreaked by landslide

There were dramatic pictures from there on Friday when a landslide caused the ground to collapse in one neighbourhood, destroying houses and leaving a huge sinkhole.

Residents have been transported out - many left with nothing - and have been forced to queue for €200 (£171) handouts so they can buy basic supplies.

Despite receding waters, there is still a serious risk to some areas.

Image: A man carries debris along Erft river in Bad Munstereifel. Pic: AP

The Steinbachtal dam in western Germany was still in danger of being breached on Saturday and about 4,500 people have been evacuated nearby.

Police have also warned people in the Ahrweiler area to be wary of downed power lines, and are asking visitors to stay away as sightseers have blocked roads.

State minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Armin Laschet, said: "Hundreds of people are willing to drop everything and help us on the ground, so I want to thank all those volunteers.

"Germany will do everything possible over the next couple of days to organise the funds necessary."

Image: Wiel de Bie, 75, stands outside his flooded home in the Netherlands. Pic: AP

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Flood relief arrives for German victims

Meteorologists said some areas had received two months' rain in two days ahead of the floods, with more than 150 litres per square metre falling over 24 hours in parts of western Germany.

Several senior officials in Germany have blamed climate change for the disaster.

"Climate change isn't abstract anymore. We are experiencing it up close and painfully," said Malu Dreyer, governor of Rhineland-Palatinate state.

She said it showed the need to speed up action on the issue.

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