Germany&nbsp;will earmark up to 30 billion euros ($35 billion) to rebuild after last month's deadly floods that washed away homes, businesses and critical infrastructure, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday after talks with regional leaders.

The costs will be shared between the federal government and the 16 states, Merkel said, calling it a "sign of national solidarity".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/debris-mounts-up-after-germanys-historic-floods-402844">Debris mounts up after Germany's historic floods</a>

At least 190 people lost their lives in severe floods that pummelled western&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;in mid-July, with the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia worst hit.

Underlining the scale of the destruction, NRW state premier Armin Laschet, the conservative frontrunner to succeed Merkel, said Monday his region has not had to rebuild thousands of destroyed homes at once since World War II.

The catastrophe has also raised questions over whether enough was done to forewarn residents of the impending disaster.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-prosecutors-launch-probe-over-deadly-floods-403573">German prosecutors launch probe over deadly floods</a>

On Tuesday, Merkel and regional leaders agreed to improve the country's warning system, including by providing states with up to 88 million euros to upgrade and install sirens by 2023.

German prosecutors said last week they have launched an investigation against the district chief of the flood-hit region of Ahrweiler for negligence as warnings were made belatedly, resulting in the deaths of dozens of residents.

Germany will earmark up to 30 billion euros ($35 billion) to rebuild after last month's deadly floods that washed away homes, businesses and critical infrastructure, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday after talks with regional leaders.

Germany will earmark up to 30 billion euros ($35 billion) to rebuild after last month's deadly floods that washed away homes, businesses and critical infrastructure, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday after talks with regional leaders. The costs will be shared between the federal government and the 16 states, Merkel said, calling it a "sign of national solidarity". Also read | Debris mounts up after Germany's historic floods At least 190 people lost their lives in severe floods that pummelled western Germany in mid-July, with the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia worst hit. Underlining the scale of the destruction, NRW state premier Armin Laschet, the conservative frontrunner to succeed Merkel, said Monday his region has not had to rebuild thousands of destroyed homes at once since World War II. The catastrophe has also raised questions over whether enough was done to forewarn residents of the impending disaster. Also read | German prosecutors launch probe over deadly floods On Tuesday, Merkel and regional leaders agreed to improve the country's warning system, including by providing states with up to 88 million euros to upgrade and install sirens by 2023. German prosecutors said last week they have launched an investigation against the district chief of the flood-hit region of Ahrweiler for negligence as warnings were made belatedly, resulting in the deaths of dozens of residents.

Germany earmarks 30 billion euros to rebuild after floods

German prosecutors said Friday they have launched an investigation against the district chief of the flood-hit region of Ahrweiler for negligence as warnings were made belatedly, resulting in the deaths of dozens of residents.

Some 189 people lost their lives in severe floods that pummelled western Germany in mid-July, raising questions about whether enough was done to warn locals.

Following an initial examination of the case, prosecutors in Koblenz said they have "affirmed the initial suspicion of negligent homicide and negligent bodily harm... and have initiated investigations."

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Ahrweiler district chief Juergen Pfoehler is the focus of the probe because he had the "sole decision-making authority" and was meant to be in charge of the operation according to current regulations.

Another member of the crisis group, who had for at least part of the time taken over the command of the emergency response, was also under investigation, prosecutors said, without naming the suspect.

After reconstructing events, investigators found that forecasts about the impending floods should have led officials to sound the warning and evacuate residents living near the swollen Ahr river by 8:30 pm (1830 GMT) on July 14.

"This -- according to the initial suspicion -- was obviously either not carried out, or not carried out with the required clarity or only carried out belatedly, such that it could amount negligence," prosecutors said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/study-finds-number-of-people-exposed-to-floods-worldwide-has-surged-25-402999">Study finds number of people exposed to floods worldwide has surged 25%</a>

It took until just after 11:00 pm for evacuation orders and warnings via smartphone apps to reach residents, according to initial findings.

"The main culprit is nature," Koblenz chief public prosecutor Harald Kruse told a press conference.

"We mustn't forget that. But even in a case like this it is possible that criminally relevant human behaviour could have contributed to the deaths and injuries of these people."

Kruse singled out the 12 lives lost at a care facility for the disabled when residents on the ground floor drowned in the flood water.

"At least for these people, we believe an earlier and clearer warning of the danger or an earlier and clearer evacuation order could have saved their lives."

Delegated

Kruse said investigators had searched the district administration office and seized mobile phones as part of their efforts to piece together which warnings were received when and what action was taken.

Kruse said Pfoehler had told prosecutors he had delegated the handling of the crisis to an experienced deputy that night -- the unnamed other person targeted in the probe.

Pfoehler himself, who belongs to Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU party, was being kept up to date by phone as the flood disaster unfolded.

The Ahrweiler district is located in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate where at least 142 people died in the floods.

Sixteen people are still missing after torrents of water ripped through towns and villages, destroying bridges, roads, railways and housing in the region's worst flooding disaster in living memory.

Another 47 people died in the neighbouring state of North-Rhine Westphalia.

German government officials have vowed to learn lessons from the tragedy and improve the country's disaster warning systems, including through SMS alerts and wider use of sirens.

German prosecutors said Friday they have launched an investigation against the district chief of the flood-hit region of Ahrweiler for negligence as warnings were made belatedly, resulting in the deaths of dozens of residents.

German prosecutors said Friday they have launched an investigation against the district chief of the flood-hit region of Ahrweiler for negligence as warnings were made belatedly, resulting in the deaths of dozens of residents. Some 189 people lost their lives in severe floods that pummelled western Germany in mid-July, raising questions about whether enough was done to warn locals. Following an initial examination of the case, prosecutors in Koblenz said they have "affirmed the initial suspicion of negligent homicide and negligent bodily harm... and have initiated investigations." Also read | Debris mounts up after Germany's historic floods Ahrweiler district chief Juergen Pfoehler is the focus of the probe because he had the "sole decision-making authority" and was meant to be in charge of the operation according to current regulations. Another member of the crisis group, who had for at least part of the time taken over the command of the emergency response, was also under investigation, prosecutors said, without naming the suspect. After reconstructing events, investigators found that forecasts about the impending floods should have led officials to sound the warning and evacuate residents living near the swollen Ahr river by 8:30 pm (1830 GMT) on July 14. "This -- according to the initial suspicion -- was obviously either not carried out, or not carried out with the required clarity or only carried out belatedly, such that it could amount negligence," prosecutors said. Also read | Study finds number of people exposed to floods worldwide has surged 25% It took until just after 11:00 pm for evacuation orders and warnings via smartphone apps to reach residents, according to initial findings. "The main culprit is nature," Koblenz chief public prosecutor Harald Kruse told a press conference. "We mustn't forget that. But even in a case like this it is possible that criminally relevant human behaviour could have contributed to the deaths and injuries of these people." Kruse singled out the 12 lives lost at a care facility for the disabled when residents on the ground floor drowned in the flood water. "At least for these people, we believe an earlier and clearer warning of the danger or an earlier and clearer evacuation order could have saved their lives." Delegated Kruse said investigators had searched the district administration office and seized mobile phones as part of their efforts to piece together which warnings were received when and what action was taken. Kruse said Pfoehler had told prosecutors he had delegated the handling of the crisis to an experienced deputy that night -- the unnamed other person targeted in the probe. Pfoehler himself, who belongs to Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU party, was being kept up to date by phone as the flood disaster unfolded. The Ahrweiler district is located in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate where at least 142 people died in the floods. Sixteen people are still missing after torrents of water ripped through towns and villages, destroying bridges, roads, railways and housing in the region's worst flooding disaster in living memory. Another 47 people died in the neighbouring state of North-Rhine Westphalia. German government officials have vowed to learn lessons from the tragedy and improve the country's disaster warning systems, including through SMS alerts and wider use of sirens.

German prosecutors launch probe over deadly floods

Debris mounts up after Germany's historic floods

The first shock of catastrophic flooding in parts of Germany is giving way to helplessness as the extent of the damage becomes clearer. Aid organisations, private companies, the military and emergency services continue to clear roads and set up drinking water stations where the mountains of rubbish are growing and growing.

Mountains of rotting rubbish next problem for flood-hit areas of Germany