Fifth Anniversary of the Flood Disaster: Commemorative Events in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia

Particularly hard hit were several regions in the Eifel, the Ahr Valley, and the cities of Hagen and Wuppertal. In Erftstadt, the water flooded a gravel pit, which subsequently collapsed, causing several houses to topple into the water as a result of a landslide. In addition, part of the historic castle in Erftstadt collapsed.

Scale of the Disaster

Material damage in North Rhine-Westphalia alone amounted to around 13 billion euros, particularly in the Eifel, in the Bergisches Land, and in parts of the Sauerland. More than 130 people died in the Ahr Valley, more than half of whom were found in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. A total of 65 victims were residents of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler.

In Sinzig, twelve residents of a facility for people with intellectual disabilities also lost their lives on the night of the flood; the water had caught them in their sleep. Rhineland-Palatinate's Minister-President Gordon Schnieder (CDU) intends to visit the Lebenshilfe in Sinzig on the anniversary and speak with relatives and those affected.

Commemorative Events in the Flood-Affected Areas

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is traveling together with Schnieder to the Ahr Valley to lay a wreath there. In the afternoon, Steinmeier will speak at the commemoration ceremony in the North Rhine-Westphalian state parliament. He will also attend a joint commemorative event hosted by the state parliament and state government in Erftstadt.

In Altenahr, a photo exhibition titled "We Ahr Strong. Fünf Jahre, ein neuer Blick" will be opened at midday in Steinmeier's presence. The municipality of Altenahr was hit particularly hard by the flash flood and will hold a church service for the deceased in the afternoon.

In the evening, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) is expected at the commemoration ceremony on the market square in Ahrweiler in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, where he will deliver a speech. Merz also intends to visit a municipal construction site to learn about the progress of reconstruction and to speak with young volunteers and local businesses.

Reconstruction and Signs of Hope

In Schuld, the municipality is inviting people to a church service at the Schuld parish in the evening. The invitation shows the image of a cross-section of a tree trunk with the text: "Die Jahresringe eines Baumes erinnern daran, dass sich Erlebtes in das Leben einschreibt – schwere Zeiten ebenso wie neue Hoffnung." Rhineland-Palatinate's Interior Minister Achim Schwickert (CDU) is also expected at the commemoration service in Altenahr.

State Parliament President André Kuper (CDU) stated with regard to the affected places: "Die Narben des Unwetters seien bis heute in den Städten und Dörfern sichtbar." The central message of the day of remembrance should be both remembrance of the victims and a look ahead to further reconstruction.