Floods cost the network $ 1.5 billion

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Berlin — On Friday, German state rail operators estimated that last week’s floods would have caused € 1.3 billion ($ 1.5 billion) in damage to the network, giving another glimpse of the extent of devastation.

Authorities are still working to determine the overall cost of the worst-damaging floods in West Germany and eastern Belgium. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said this week that the damage was “extreme” and that repairs would take a long time.

Floods killed at least 180 people in Germany and another 31 in Belgium, bringing the total death toll to 211.

Deutsche Bahn, a German railway operator, said more than 50 bridges, 180 railroad crossings, nearly 40 signal stations, more than 1,000 electricity and signal masts, energy and lighting systems, and station elevators were damaged.

Volker Hentschel, director of the company’s DB Netz infrastructure division, said: He said the floods caused damage to the rail network and stations by about € 1.3 billion, according to initial estimates.

The government, which owns Deutsche Bahn, has vowed to quickly begin reconstruction efforts. Henchell said it would take “months, if not years,” to restore everything, but he is confident that the company will be able to repair 80% of its damaged infrastructure by the end of this year. There is.

The German National Meteorological Service, DWD, states that local storms are likely to occur in parts of the flood-affected areas on Saturday, but in most cases warnings are needed. Is not expected to rain.

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