The death toll in floods in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia has increased to 43, officials said, pushing the total number of fatalities in Germany and Belgium above 100.
Rescuers are scrambling to find survivors and rescue people trapped in houses at risk of collapse.
Hundreds of people are still missing and thousands are homeless after days of heavy storms that caused flash floods across western Germany and Belgium.
In a provisional tally, the Belgian death toll has risen to 12, with five people still missing, local authorities and media reported early on Friday.
The flash floods this week followed days of heavy rainfall which turned streams and streets into raging torrents that swept away cars and caused houses to collapse across the region.
1. Blessem district of Erftstadt in Germany. Rescuers were rushing Friday to help people trapped in their homes in the town of Erftstadt, southwest of Cologne.
Regional authorities said several people had died after their houses collapsed due to subsidence, and aerial pictures showed what appeared to be a massive sinkhole. (Rhein-Erft-Kreis via AP) Photo: Rhein-Erft-Kreis
2. A fireman stands next to a destroyed car pressed against a tree by the torrents after the floods caused major damage in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, western Germany
The death toll from devastating floods in Europe soared to at least 118 on July 16, with at least 103 dead in Germany. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP) Photo: CHRISTOF STACHE
3. Debris hangs on a damaged bridge over the Ahr river in Schuld, Germany, Friday, July 16, 2021.
Two days before the Ahr river went over the banks after strong rain falls causing severals deaths and hundreds of people missing. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) Photo: Michael Probst
4. People carry their belongings past a broken road in Schuld, Germany, Friday, July 16, 2021.
Two days before the Ahr river went over the banks after strong rain falls causing severals deaths and hundreds of people missing. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) Photo: Michael Probst