OREANDA-NEWS. The number of victims of the largest floods in recent decades in Belgium has risen to 37 people, while another six people are missing, the crisis headquarters said.

It is also reported that in the most affected areas of Wallonia, in particular in the city of Verviers, hundreds of residential buildings are unfit for habitation due to flooding, about ten thousand people need to be relocated. The Wallonian authorities announced the creation of an emergency assistance mechanism for the victims, under which they intend to raise about two billion euros to finance the restoration of the affected areas. Such work, according to experts, may take several years.

On July 14-15, heavy rains hit the southern Belgian provinces, leading to unprecedented floods. According to Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo, the floods have become the most catastrophic in the history of the country.

Floods have previously been reported in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. The number of victims goes to hundreds, those missing - to thousands. Tens of thousands of people are being evacuated.

In addition, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Germany announced the risks of epidemics and invasion of parasites in the flood-affected regions in the west of the country, which is probably associated with the decomposition of animal carcasses, reports the Spiegel edition. The publication got acquainted with the internal report of the department. The document says about the likelihood of "epidemics and invasion of parasites", the risk of infection increases, in particular, due to the rise in temperature and "decaying animal carcasses."