Last night the cabinet formally declared the flooding in Limburg a disaster. The government will help to pay for the damages. Meanwhile, 12,000 people were evacuated in Maastricht and Bunde last night in anticipation of “doomsday” flooding levels.
Morning from #Maastricht – a record height of water levels broken last night i think with still lots of debris floating past like a postbox, a fridge and a front door this morning 😥#limburg #flooding #wateroverlast #watersnoodramp pic.twitter.com/xYSu0IQ5C8
— Zoe Elliott | Together In Transit & Mama Ginger (@Tog_in_transit) July 16, 2021
The NOS reports that while the high water level in South Limburg is starting to fall, the high water peak is now moving towards the north of the province and is rising faster than expected. As a result, 550 homes in Roermond were evacuated by police at 6:00 this morning.
Government response to the disaster
The NOS reported last night that the cabinet has put into effect the Compensation for Damage Act. This means that victims whose insurance won’t cover their damages will be partially reimbursed by the government. This legislation is used in cases where the damage is so great that insurance companies aren’t able to cover it.
The prime minister will be visiting Limburg this afternoon.
Flooding in the town of Valkenburg in Limburg province of the Netherlands on the borders of Germany and Belgium https://t.co/AKDR99ETb2
— parallel_universe (@ignis_fatum) July 16, 2021
In #Valkenburg gaat het nijpend worden! #CodeRood #Limburg #weer pic.twitter.com/kNVeMeD7mu
— Dave Huntjens (@DaveHuntjens1) July 14, 2021
Chaos across the borders
Meanwhile, our Belgian and German cousins have also been tragically affected by the floods. So far there have been 80 recorded deaths in Germany with many more people missing and 11 deaths in Belgium.
Scenes of devastation in Limburg
Deze kreeg ik via Whatsapp. Het #bier bij de Brand brouwerij in #Wijlre gaat er vandoor 😳🍺 #wateroverlast #limburg pic.twitter.com/D6775IsaYp
— Ralph Delfos (@RalphDelfos) July 14, 2021
Militairen van @13LichteBrigade hebben de hele nacht ondersteuning geleverd aan civiele diensten in #Limburg die daar met man en macht aan het werk zijn. Ze hebben op meerdere locaties zandzakken gelegd en geholpen bij #evacuaties in Valkenburg. pic.twitter.com/ZpZeaEuGce
— KoninklijkeLandmacht (@landmacht) July 15, 2021
Bizar wat er allemaal door de Maas wordt meegesleurd! Bij Borgharen is dat pas goed te zien @L1 #wateroverlast #limburg pic.twitter.com/RicedHVdnc
— Ruud van Broekhoven (@Ruud077) July 15, 2021
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Feature Image: Els Boersma/Supplied