Over 40 dead and dozens missing in Germany after record rainfall and devastating floods

At least 42 people have died and dozens are missing in Germany after catastrophic floods in the west of the country.

Hundreds of soldiers have been sent in to help with the rescue efforts as stranded residents were winched from rooftops to safety.

There has been flooding within the city of Cologne and more widely to either side of the river Rhine.

After the unprecedented rainfall of the last 24 hours, more water is still flowing into the region’s rivers.