Heavy downpours triggered flash floods in parts of western and central Germany, causing property damage and traffic disruption.

Heavy rains triggered flash floods in parts of Germany, damaged houses and interrupted traffic. At least 6 people were killed and dozens of people were missing.

Police in the western city of Koblenz said on Twitter on Thursday that 4 people had died in Ahrweiler County and about 50 people were trapped on the roofs of houses waiting for rescue.

Local police said that many of the people reported missing were on the roofs of at least six houses washed away by floods in Schulder, where rain caused the river to burst its banks.

Railway, road and river transportation interrupted [Friedemann Vogel/EPA]

After days of heavy rains disrupted railway, road and river transportation, the authorities declared a state of emergency in the area. Large parts of western and central Germany and neighboring countries have suffered extensive damage.

Police said an 82-year-old man died after falling over a flooded basement in the western city of Wuppertal, one of the worst-hit cities.

Authorities said that a firefighter drowned in a rescue effort in the western German town of Altena on Wednesday, and another man disappeared in the eastern town of Joch after trying to protect his property from rising water levels. Stadt is missing.

The German Meteorological Agency warned in its morning announcement that there may be heavy rains in southwestern Germany on Thursday, which will continue to rain until Friday night.