Germany’s Merkel defends warning systems in wake of deadly floods

German government faces growing questions about how well-prepared authorities were for devastating natural disaster.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has defended Germany’s warning systems against widespread criticism after deadly floods last week. Speaking during a visit to the country’s flood-hit state of North Rhine-Westphalia on Tuesday, Merkel said Germany had a “very good warning system” but pledged a thorough review of “what worked and what didn’t work” in the wake of the natural disaster. It was Merkel’s second visit to the region since the flooding, which killed at least 165 people in Germany and 31 in neighbouring Belgium.