German chancellor Angela Merkel said she is "shocked" by the news of the deadly floods that have hit some parts of her country and called it a “catastrophe.”“Here in Washington, my thoughts are also always with the people in our homeland,” Merkel said at a press conference on Thursday, ahead of a meeting with US President Biden. “Peaceful places are going through a catastrophe in these hours, one can say a tragedy. Heavy rainfall and floods are very inadequate words to describe this -- it is therefore really a catastrophe.'' Merkel acknowledged and thanked the many countries that have expressed solidarity with Germany and offered to help. “I mourn for those who have lost their lives in this catastrophe — we do not yet know these numbers but there will be many,” she added.

Source: CNN July 15, 2021 15:00 UTC