Germany's Merkel to visit flood zone as western Europe death toll tops 170

As the waters began to recede in Rhineland-Palatinate and neighbouring North-Rhine Westphalia, concern shifted south to Germany's Upper Bavaria region where heavy rains inundated basements and swelled rivers and creeks late Saturday.In Austria, emergency workers in the Salzburg and Tyrol regions were on high alert for flooding. The historic town centre of Hallein, near the German frontier, was under water.

The government has said it is working to set up a special aid fund, with the cost of damage expected to reach several billion euros.The disaster has increasingly taken on political overtones in Germany, which heads to the polls on Sep 26 for a general election that will mark the end of Merkel's 16 years in power.

But Laschet, who heads Merkel's CDU party currently leading in opinion polls, scored an own goal Saturday when he was filmed laughing in the devastated town of Erftstadt in NRW, where a landslide was triggered by the floods.In the footage, Laschet could be seen chatting and joking in the background as President Frank-Walter Steinmeier gave a statement expressing his sympathies to grieving families.Laschet later apologised on Twitter for the"inappropriate" moment.

Europe which should be a must on every globetrotter’s list of destinations. If you have made up your mind for a trip to Europe make a list of things you want to see.

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