Sunday, 22 December 2024
Sunday, 22 December 2024
Spain is grappling with its most deadly natural disaster in recent memory after a year of rain fell in just eight hours on Tuesday night in the eastern region of Valencia, destroying roads, railway tracks and bridges as rivers burst their banks.
The reality of climate change has hit Europe hard in 2024, with Spain, Germany, Italy and Central Europe being hit by flooding not seen in half a century.
"Yes – what's happening in Valencia is awful. But we are only seeing this because it is happening in a white, developed, nation, at the heart of Europe,” William J. McGuire, volcanologist and emeritus professor of Geophysical & Climate Hazards at University College London, wrote on X.
“The truth is that the supercharging of extreme weather means this sort of catastrophe is happening somewhere almost every day."
Italy and France, just before
Earlier in October, floods submerged towns and rural landscapes in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, with the city of Bologna being hit by more than 160 mm of rain. At least one death was reported as streams and the Icice river burst their banks. People were evacuated in Cadelbosco di Sopra after a tributary of the river Po overflowed. On the island of Sicily, people had to be rescued from roofs and vehicles amid flash flooding caused by heavy rain. In Florence, the river Elsa burst its banks.
In central France, flooding caused damage and power outages and evacuation of over 1,000 people. The French weather agency recorded 685.8 mm of rain in 48 hours in parts of Ardeche and Lozere.
Central Europe’s multi-nation emergency in September
In September, Storm Boris unleashed chaos across Central Europe, impacting seven countries and leading to widespread devastation. The Czech Republic alone saw over 200 rivers burst their banks, and some areas receiving nearly 500 mm of rainfall. Poland reported 10 deaths, Bosnia and Herzegovina 27, as landslides buried villages and submerged buildings. In Passau, Germany, the Danube’s rise to 31.5 feet underscored the scale of destruction and the continued impact of heavy rains across Central Europe.
Germany’s triple crisis in June
In June, Germany endured three waves of intense flooding that wreaked havoc across Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Heavy rainfall led the Danube in Passau to surge to 31.5 feet (9.6 metres), submerging streets and causing damages worth €2 billion. Five people died as towns scrambled to evacuate residents from flood-hit homes and historic sites. The waterlogged Falkenstein Castle, partially collapsing under the pressure, stood as a stark symbol of the flooding’s impact.
The human cost
Beyond the tragic loss of life, these floods have left survivors grappling with dire conditions. In Valencia, residents trek through flooded streets for essential supplies, relying on volunteers to distribute aid. Bosnia’s Donja Jablanica village, buried by landslides, left only the mosque’s minaret visible above the wreckage. Across Europe, the floods have disrupted communities, uprooted families, and inflicted emotional trauma on those trying to rebuild their lives.
Economic impact and recovery
The financial toll of 2024’s floods is immense, with Germany’s insurance claims nearing €2 billion and Slovakia estimating €20 million in damages. Spain’s infrastructure assessments continue, revealing the staggering cost of rebuilding.
