AP PHOTOS: Christmas cheer found in flooded German valley

**APTOPIX_Germany_Flooded_Valley_Christmas_Photo_Gallery_73589** A Christmas tree stands where once house stood in the village of Schuld in the Ahrtal valley, southern Germany, Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. Amid the mud and debris still clogging the streets from last summer's devastating floods, residents of the Ahr Valley in western Germany are trying to spark some festive cheer with Christmas trees. (Photo/Michael Probst)

**Germany_Flooded_Valley_Christmas_Photo_Gallery_82955** An illuminated Christmas tree leans against the window of a damaged house in Mayschoss in the Ahrtal valley, southern Germany, Tuesday, Dec.14, 2021. The region was hit by floodings exactly five months ago, causing the death of about 180 people. Amid the mud and debris still clogging the streets from last summer's devastating floods, residents of the Ahr Valley in western Germany are trying to spark some festive cheer with Christmas trees. (Photo/Michael Probst)

**APTOPIX_Germany_Flooded_Valley_Christmas_Photo_Gallery_58176** A Christmas tree leans a wall of a damaged house in Mayschoss in the Ahrtal valley, southern Germany, Tuesday, Dec.14, 2021. Amid the mud and debris still clogging the streets from last summer's devastating floods, residents of the Ahr Valley in western Germany are trying to spark some festive cheer with Christmas trees. (Photo/Michael Probst)

**Germany_Flooded_Valley_Christmas_Photo_Gallery_92072** A Christmas tree stands next to shovels in the village of Dernau in the Ahrtal valley, southern Germany, Tuesday, Dec.14, 2021. Amid the mud and debris still clogging the streets from last summer's devastating floods, residents of the Ahr Valley in western Germany are trying to spark some festive cheer with Christmas trees. (Photo/Michael Probst)

**Germany_Flooded_Valley_Christmas_Photo_Gallery_60041** A Christmas tree leans against a damaged house in the village of Schuld in the Ahrtal valley, southern Germany, Tuesday, Dec.14, 2021. Amid the mud and debris still clogging the streets from last summer's devastating floods, residents of the Ahr Valley in western Germany are trying to spark some festive cheer with Christmas trees. (Photo/Michael Probst)

**Germany_Flooded_Valley_Christmas_Photo_Gallery_85893** A Christmas tree lies on front of a damaged house in Mayschoss in the Ahrtal valley, southern Germany, Tuesday, Dec.14, 2021. The region was hit by floodings exactly five months ago, causing the death of about 180 people.Amid the mud and debris still clogging the streets from last summer's devastating floods, residents of the Ahr Valley in western Germany are trying to spark some festive cheer with Christmas trees. (Photo/Michael Probst)

**Germany_Flooded_Valley_Christmas_Photo_Gallery_30029** Three men take a brake from restoring the inside of a winery in Resch in the Ahrtal valley, southern Germany, Monday, Dec.13, 2021. Amid the mud and debris still clogging the streets from last summer's devastating floods, residents of the Ahr Valley in western Germany are trying to spark some festive cheer with Christmas trees. (Photo/Michael Probst)

**Germany_Flooded_Valley_Christmas_Photo_Gallery_67218** A sign in a shop window reads "the Ahrtal lives" in Bad Neuenahr in the Ahrtal valley, southern Germany, Monday, Dec.13, 2021. The region was hit by floodings exactly five months ago, causing the death of about 180 people.Amid the mud and debris still clogging the streets from last summer's devastating floods, residents of the Ahr Valley in western Germany are trying to spark some festive cheer with Christmas trees. (Photo/Michael Probst)

**Germany_Flooded_Valley_Christmas_Photo_Gallery_34298** The remains of a bridge lead over the Ahr river in Resch in the Ahrtal valley, southern Germany, Tuesday, Dec.14, 2021. The floods in July claimed almost 200 lives, many of them in the narrow Ahr Valley that's best known for its vineyards and as a picturesque hiking destination. (Photo/Michael Probst)

**Germany_Flooded_Valley_Christmas_Photo_Gallery_62930** Damaged cars are piled up near the Ahr river in Resch in the Ahrtal valley, southern Germany, Tuesday, Dec.14, 2021. The region was hit by floodings exactly five months ago, causing the death of about 180 people. The floods in July claimed almost 200 lives, many of them in the narrow Ahr Valley that's best known for its vineyards and as a picturesque hiking destination. (Photo/Michael Probst)

**Germany_Flooded_Valley_Christmas_Photo_Gallery_00876** A woman walks on a partially destroyed cemetery in Altenahr in the Ahrtal valley, southern Germany, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. The floods in July claimed almost 200 lives, many of them in the narrow Ahr Valley that's best known for its vineyards and as a picturesque hiking destination. (Photo/Michael Probst)

**Germany_Flooded_Valley_Christmas_Photo_Gallery_23355** Trace of mud made by hands are seen on a wall inside a house in the village of Schuld in the Ahrtal valley, southern Germany, Tuesday, Dec.14, 2021. The floods in July claimed almost 200 lives, many of them in the narrow Ahr Valley that's best known for its vineyards and as a picturesque hiking destination. (Photo/Michael Probst)

**Germany_Flooded_Valley_Christmas_Photo_Gallery_30123** The remains of a bridge lead over the Ahr river in Resch in the Ahrtal valley, southern Germany, Tuesday, Dec.14, 2021. The floods in July claimed almost 200 lives, many of them in the narrow Ahr Valley that's best known for its vineyards and as a picturesque hiking destination.(Photo/Michael Probst)

**Germany_Flooded_Valley_Christmas_Photo_Gallery_85442** A damaged house is seen in the village of Schuld in the Ahrtal valley, southern Germany, Tuesday, Dec.14, 2021. The floods in July claimed almost 200 lives, many of them in the narrow Ahr Valley that's best known for its vineyards and as a picturesque hiking destination.(Photo/Michael Probst)

**Germany_Flooded_Valley_Christmas_Photo_Gallery_85529** Children have painted the wall of a house with letters reading "maximum water hight on July 14, 2021" and "our flood was higher than.." showing a dinosaur in the village of Dernau in the Ahrtal valley, southern Germany, Tuesday, Dec.14, 2021. The floods in July claimed almost 200 lives, many of them in the narrow Ahr Valley that's best known for its vineyards and as a picturesque hiking destination. (Photo/Michael Probst)

**Germany_Flooded_Valley_Christmas_Photo_Gallery_26349** An illuminated Christmas tree leans against the windows of a damaged house in Mayschoss in the Ahrtal valley, southern Germany, Tuesday, Dec.14, 2021. Amid the mud and debris still clogging the streets from last summer's devastating floods, residents of the Ahr Valley in western Germany are trying to spark some festive cheer with Christmas trees. (Photo/Michael Probst)

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MAYSCHOSS, Germany (AP) — Residents of the Ahr Valley, known as Ahrtal in German, are trying to bring some Christmas cheer to streets still clogged with mud and debris from July flooding that killed almost 200 people in western Germany.

This week, five months after the floods, a chipboard sign in the largest town, Bad Neuenahr, read: “The Ahrtal lives.” Next to it, someone had decorated a fir tree with baubles and lights.

In the village of Mayschoss, further up the valley best known for its vineyards and as a picturesque hiking destination, stood a tree with lights powered from makeshift cabling outside a damaged building.

Fresh candles cut through the dark in nearby Altenahr as they burned on the graves of local people who died in the summer disaster.

The majority of Germany’s flood deaths happened in the narrow valley, where heavy rainfall caused the Ahr River to quickly fill and spill over, drowning vehicles and crushing buildings.

Residents reported at the time receiving little advance warning of the deadly floodwaters, with some claiming that information from authorities was unclear or entirely absent.

The massive economic and emotional costs — the floods destroyed or badly damaged hundreds of houses — caused some residents to consider leaving the region.

But others have insisted they will stay, rebuild and celebrate when they can.

AP PHOTOS: Christmas cheer found in flooded German valley

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AP PHOTOS: Christmas cheer found in flooded German valley

Share This Gallery:

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