Swantje Stein told ITV's Good Morning Britain that the whole dimension of the flooding catastrophe across Germany is just beginning to emerge. The Reuters Correspondent added that in the region of river Aar more than a thousand people are currently missing.
Ms Stein said: "The whole dimension of this catastrophe is just beginning to emerge.
"Sadly overnight the death toll has risen.
"One broadcaster is reporting 81 people have lost their lives in this flood.
"And many, many more are missing."
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She continued: "In the region of the Aar river alone there are more than a thousand people unaccounted for.
"This might be due to the fact the mobile network systems are down in the region.
"It is very difficult for people to reach their loved ones."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has issued a heartbreaking statement regarding the flooding.
Ms Merkel said: “I grieve for those who have lost their lives in this disaster,”
“We still don’t know the number. But it will be many.”
"We can tell the relatives that everything is being done to find those who are missing,” she said.
"My sympathy goes to the relatives and of the dead and missing."
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The governor of Rhineland-Palatinate state, Malu Dreyer said: "There are people dead, there are people missing, there are many who are still in danger,"
"We have never seen such a disaster. It’s really devastating."
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also issued a statement: "My thoughts are with the families of the victims of the devastating floods in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands and those who have lost their homes," she tweeted.
"The EU is ready to help."