Satellites capture extent of flooding disaster in western Europe
Record rainfall has caused rivers in Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands to spill over their banks, wreaking havoc on the surrounding areas.
Striking satellite images captured the extent of severe flooding in western Europe. Heavy rainfall caused rivers to burst through their banks, laying waste to entire villages.
Satellites from the European Space Agency’s Copernicus programme use radar technology to see through the heavy clouds. By combining data acquired before and after the flooding, the affected areas become visible.
The Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia areas in Germany are among the worst hit. The official death toll in Germany is at 133, but is expected to increase as rescue operations continue.
The floods also affected towns in Luxembourg, Belgium and The Netherlands. In Belgium at least 24 people died because of the floods. Others are still missing.
Thousands of people were evacuated from the Dutch towns of Roermond and Venlo, because of a collapsed embankment.
It’s important to note that the satellites don’t always capture the worst affected areas, because the water flowing through towns and villages has often already subsided by the time a satellite flies overhead.
Nonetheless, the images are important in assessing the damage from the floods, and are used to aid relief efforts.
