Europe faces extreme weather in 2023 with record rainfall causing significant losses

Published: 22 April 2024 at 09:19

Science

Europe experienced its fourth wettest year on record in 2023, with December being the wettest month, leading to losses of at least 13 billion Euros and affecting 1.6 million people. The excessive rain saturated farms, rendering many crops unharvestable and causing economic challenges for farmers like Andrew Branton in Lincolnshire. The continent is warming at a faster rate than the global average, with the three warmest years occurring since 2020. Floods and storms throughout the year led to disasters in countries like Slovenia, impacting 1.5 million people.

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2021 European floods (Wikipedia)

In July 2021, several European countries were affected by severe floods. Some were catastrophic, causing deaths and widespread damage. The floods started in the United Kingdom as flash floods causing some property damage and inconvenience. Later floods affected several river basins across Europe including Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. At least 243 people died in the floods, including 196 in Germany, 43 in Belgium, two in Romania, one in Italy and one in Austria.Belgian Minister of Home Affairs Annelies Verlinden described the events as "one of the greatest natural disasters our country has ever known." German minister-president Malu Dreyer of the Rhineland-Palatinate state called the floods "devastating". In addition to the confirmed fatalities, the flooding led to widespread power outages, forced evacuations and damage to infrastructure and agriculture in the affected areas. The damage to infrastructure was especially severe in Belgium and Germany. The floods are estimated to have cost up to €2.55 billion (US$3 billion) in insured losses, with the total damage costs being much higher, at a minimum of €10 billion (US$11.8 billion). In the aftermath, scientists, activists and reporters all highlighted the connection to global trends in extreme weather, especially more frequent heavy rainfall caused by climate change.

2024 Persian Gulf floods (Wikipedia)

In April 2024, heavy rain severely impacted states in the Persian Gulf, causing flash flooding across the region. Several states recorded nearly a year's worth of rain in a single day. The floods had a significant impact across the region, with Oman and the United Arab Emirates being particularly affected, resulting in the deaths of at least 32 people, including 19 in Oman and 8 in Iran. Southeastern Iran, Yemen, Bahrain, Qatar, and the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia also experienced heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding.

Floods in Tanzania Kill 58 People Amid Heavy Rains

Floods in Tanzania have claimed the lives of 58 people in the past two weeks due to continuous heavy rains, with the coastal region being the most affected and 126,831 people impacted. The government has distributed essential supplies to those affected and plans to build 14 dams to prevent future flooding. East Africa is experiencing heavy rains, with neighboring Kenya also facing flooding that has resulted in at least 13 deaths. Residents in flood-prone areas are advised to relocate as the rains are expected to intensify by the end of the month.