Two Drown In Belgian Flood; Cities Swamped

At least two people drowned and one was missing Saturday in heavy flooding that swamped several cities in southern Belgium, officials said, while parts of the German city of Cologne were under water.

In Namur, a Belgian city on the swollen river Meuse, a man drowned when he fell into his cellar.

Near Mons, another city in southern Belgium, a woman drowned and another was missing after their car fell in the river and they were swept away trying to escape the vehicle. A third woman from the car was taken to the hospital in a state of shock.

In Germany, the Old City district of Cologne was inundated for the second time in 13 months when the swollen, muddy Rhine spilled over emergency flood walls.

Emergency workers placed 11,000 sand bags around the Old City. Lowlying apartments and basements were evacuated, and officials complained that large numbers of gawkers were hindering rescue crews.

Storms have caused widespread flooding in many parts of Europe over the past week.