Paragraph 2
Torrential
caused many rivers to swell and overflow last week. Many burst their
and caused flash floods in
areas. Floodwaters washed away houses, roads and bridges across Germany, Belgium and other countries. The death
is now 190, with many people
. Towns are covered in
and some areas are beyond
. Ms Merkel described this as being "
". The premier of one flood-stricken state said the clean-up
would take "years". He questioned Germany's preparedness for floods and the
of flood defences.
