German officials defend preparation for deadly floods

Damage and debris from flooding near the Ahr River, in Bad Neuenahr, Germany (dpa/AP)

German officials have defended their preparations for flooding in the face of the raging torrents that caught many people by surprise and left over 180 people dead in Western Europe – but conceded that they will need to learn lessons from the disaster.

Efforts to find more victims and clean up the mess left behind by the floods across western Germany, eastern Belgium and the Netherlands continued on Monday as floodwaters receded.