German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday visited flooded regions in the southwest of the country, where river levels have risen and heavy rainfall-induced flooding and landslides have occurred, dpa reported.

Scholz canceled his participation in an election event in Saarland, on the border with France, and instead wore rubber boots as he walked along a partially flooded road in the village of Kleinblittersdorf with the region's governor, Anke Relinger.

In the state capital, Saarbrücken, emergency services responded to thousands of requests for help. Several buildings in the city had to be evacuated as houses and basements were flooded. Cars were partially flooded and streets were filled with water. 

Scholz assured the federal state of Saarland of the solidarity of the federal government.