Germany floods: At least 80 dead and hundreds unaccounted for

At least 80 people have died and hundreds more are unaccounted for in Germany after some of the worst flooding in decades.

Record rainfall in western Europe caused rivers to burst their banks, devastating the region.

Belgium has also reported at least 12 dead after the extreme weather, which political leaders have blamed on climate change.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has pledged full support for the victims.

In Germany, the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia were worst hit.

During a visit to a hard-hit area, Armin Laschet, premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, blamed the extreme weather on global warming, saying climate protection measures must be accelerated.

Scientists have repeatedly warned that human-induced climate change would bring pulses of extreme rainfall such as this one.

The Netherlands is also badly affected, with further flooding in Luxembourg and Switzerland.