The death toll in Germany and other areas of Europe due to severe flooding climbed to more than 180 on Sunday, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel suggesting the intensity of flooding had “something to do with climate change.”
Merkel visited the village of Schuld in western Germany to meet with those who survived the flooding and survey the damage, NBC News reported.
Speaking in a nearby town during a press conference, she said, “We must get faster in the battle against climate change,” according to The Associated Press.
“One flood isn’t the example of climate change, but if we look at the loss events of recent years, decades, then they are simply more frequent than they were previously — so we must make a great effort,” Merkel said.
Although scientists are hesitant to say whether the flooding was caused by climate change, they believe climate change has made extreme weather conditions worse, the AP noted.
It will take weeks to determine what role climate change has played in the flooding, though climate change has been linked to more serious downpours.
The flooding, which began on Wednesday, has killed at least 188 people, Reuters reported. The floods have affected countries in Europe including Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
At least 157 people have been killed by the flooding in Germany, along with at least 31 people in Belgium, according to Reuters. Many communities are still without power.
“It is shocking — I would almost say that the German language barely has words for the devastation that has been wreaked,” Merkel said, according to the AP.
Merkel, who is stepping down as chancellor after September’s election, also said that a medium-term finance program would be approved by her Cabinet on Wednesday.