YDS 2021 in Review

T H E O T H E R E X T R E M E : W I D E S P R E A D F L O O D I N G
In contrast to the fiery conditions in Southern Europe was the extreme rainfall
experienced Western Europe. According to FloodList, there were more than 40 flood
events in over 135 locations across Europe during the summer. However, July saw
the most intense rainfall and flooding in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
The 14th to 15th July floods saw the worst-hit areas suffer as much as two months
worth of rain within 24 hours, resulting in 196 deaths and injuring thousands of
people.
Over the summer, the heavy rainfall in Western Europe
saturated soils, rendering them unable to take in large quantities
of water. Continual heavy rainfall on saturated soils means that
on a lower scale, there would be increased water run-off.
However, the scale of the floods in Western Europe resulted in
the extreme flooding of land and overflows of rivers. The areas
of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia were most
affected by the heaviest rainfall in Germany, which saw small
streams and minor rivers become torrential waterways with the
capacity to destroy villages.
At the Meuse River’s tributary in the Netherlands, the city of
Valkenburg was flooded. As the downpours often occurred
during the night, people were not prepared for their homes to
be inundated by floodwaters and torrential rainfall. Due to the
sudden nature of flooding, many people were swept down the
rivers and were injured. Some areas were more fortunate than
others; however, many houses and other critical infrastructure
sites were significantly damaged. The floods therefore had a
significant impact on critical resources and services, as they
hindered access to electricity and telephone networks, impeding
people’s ability to access critical support. Additionally, the floods
resulted in major road closures, which rendered some towns
inaccessible and prevented emergency crews from entering.
C O N C L U S I O N
40
135
flood
events
The fires and floods throughout Europe created an unforgettable summer. The widespread
natural disasters had severely detrimental impacts on European individuals and
communities. Unfortunately, the scale and severity of these natural disasters is unlikely to
decrease in future, given the increasingly noticeable impact of climate change. Despite the
losses experienced during the fires and floods in Europe, these events demonstrated the
importance of adapting to changing climatic conditions. The 2021 European natural disasters
should be the catalyst for developing strategies to become more resilient to the increasing
threat of natural disasters in the coming decades.
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P H O T O V I A S K Y N E W S
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