Floods - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - Oct / Nov 2019 - 23rd Nov 2019
View this newsletter in full‘We have nothing’: Somalia floods raise spectre of famine
Communities already hit by war and drought face fresh disaster as 370,000 are forced from homes
19th Nov 2019 - The Guardian
Venice floods: Race to save art as 70% of Lagoon city submerged by floods
St Mark's Square was closed to tourists as it was covered in knee-high water, while shops and hotels were submerged
16th Nov 2019 - Sky News
UK weather: More rain falls overnight as floods force 1,200 homes to evacuate
The Environment Agency said around 830 properties have been flooded, with homes evacuated in Bentley and Fishlake, near Doncaster.
15th Nov 2019 - Sky News
Flooding caused by poor management and floodplain building, say experts
Poor management of the rural landscape along with global heating and building on floodplains are the main factors that led to the floods that have engulfed towns in northern England, according to experts
12th Nov 2019 - The Guardian
The Guardian view on the floods: global heating and British soaking
The drama and loss of recent days should focus minds on the urgent necessity of climate adaptation
12th Nov 2019 - The Guardian
Britain's floods show how unprepared it is for the climate crisis
As severe floods from a month’s worth of rain in one day claim a life, there is only one way to find a flood strategy that works.
8th Nov 2019 - New Statesman
Floods - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - Jan - March 2019 - 12th Mar 2019
View this newsletter in fullAustralian flooding kills 500,000 cattle (Video)
Devastating floods, following seven years of drought, have killed half a million cattle in Queensland, Australia.
18th Feb 2019 - CNN
River swells to 37 miles wide in 'once-in-a-century' floods in Queensland, Australia
The waters force thousands to flee, as well as closing airports and schools and leaving cars and houses submerged.
15th Feb 2019 - Sky News
World's Driest Desert Floods as Extreme Weather Events Rise
The world's driest desert is flooding and some of the planet's wettest woodlands are burning. Welcome to summer in Chile. Rains high up in the Andes ...
8th Feb 2019 - Bloomberg
Thousands of Syrian children at risk as flooding hits refugee camps
More than 11,000 children living in camps in northern Syria have been affected by torrential rains that have caused floods and washed away tents.
10th Jan 2019 - The Independent
Floods - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 16th Jan 2019
View this newsletter in fullFlooding in northern Argentina expected to continue
Since the beginning of the year, the area has received about five times the long-term expected average rainfall.
15th Jan 2019 - AlJazeera
Towns flood in north as forecasts see cold snap, snow in Jerusalem
Unusually strong rains break five-year drought, force evacuations of hikers, stranded motorists, and schoolchildren in mountainous areas
14th Jan 2019 - The Times of Israel
The death of Venice? City’s battles with tourism and flooding reach crisis level
A tax on daytrippers has hit the headlines, but La Serenissima's mounting problems also include rising waters, angry locals and a potential black mark from ...
6th Jan 2019 - The Guardian
Future flood warning means 45000 NI homes at risk
Around 45,000 properties in Northern Ireland are at risk of flooding as the country braces for stormier and more extreme weather, a report said.
13th Jan 2019 - ITV News
Consultation explores opportunities for flood and coastal erosion management at a local level
Government is beginning a conversation on increasing local funding for flood and coastal erosion management.
16th Jan 2019 - GOV.UK
BBC Weather: Europe to be crushed with more HEAVY snow and flash flooding
Europe has been hit with devastating winter weather conditions in recent days and BBC Weather has warned snow and heavy rain could continue across the continent.
15th Jan 2019 - Express.co.uk
Lebanon: Syrian refugees endure more floods from new storm
Refugees seek shelter in incomplete housing units, garages or evacuated schools after Storm Norma hit last week.
14th Jan 2019 - AlJazeera
Hull's £42m tidal flood scheme gets the green light
Construction of a multi-million pound scheme to protect thousands of homes and businesses in Hull from flooding from the Humber has been given the go ahead.
9th Jan 2019 - GOV.UK
Floods - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 1st Jan 2019
View this newsletter in fullTropical cyclone to exacerbate flooding in northern Queensland
Relentless rain has fallen in northeast Australia recently, with Daintree Village reporting 827mm over the last week and Cairns Racecourse receiving 452mm. The average rainfall in the whole of December in Cairns is only 181mm
31st Dec 2018 - AlJazeera
Heavy rains, floods displace thousands of refugees in Syria
Two days of torrential rain in northern Syria caused major flooding in Idlib and Aleppo.
30th Dec 2018 - AlJazeera
More than 50 million under flood and flash flood watches as severe US storm system brings towns 'to a standstill'
Two people have died as a result of a severe storm system that caused blizzard conditions in the US Midwest and torrential rain and flood threats in the south.
29th Dec 2018 - 9News.com.au
Floods - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 16th Dec 2018
View this newsletter in fullParts of Malaysia's Terengganu state hit by floods due to monsoon rains
Parts of eastern Malaysia's Terengganu state have been hit by floods due to heavy rains from the annual monsoon season. There were 163 evacuees at flood relief centres on Sunday (Dec 16) morning.
16th Dec 2018 - The Straits Times
163 evacuated as Terengganu floods worsen
Fourteen more people were evacuated overnight, raising to 163 the number of flood evacuees in Terengganu as at 8 am today, according to the Civil Defence Force.
16th Dec 2018 - Malay Mail
680mm in 24 hours: Record rain floods fire-ravaged Queensland
EX-Tropical Cyclone Owen has dumped more than half a metre of rain in parts of Far North Queensland, just two weeks after the region was scorched by fire.
16th Dec 2018 - MyGC.com.au
Flooding problems hit Devon and Cornwall
Widespread flooding reported in Cornwall with disruption to major road links
15th Dec 2018 - Cornwallive.com
Graignamanagh floods again with no relief in sight
Despite numerous assurances from successive governments, Graignamanagh is once again flooded. The Duiske River has burst its banks and the Main Street has been closed.
15th Dec 2018 - Kilkenny People
Victoria hit by destructive thunderstorms as bureau warns NSW is next
Flash floods have caused havoc for some in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon, with flash flooding turning backyards, suburban streets and ponds into gushing rivers.
14th Dec 2018 - The Guardian
India: a turbulent tale of rivers, floods and monsoons
The Indian novelist Amitav Ghosh focus on the Indian subcontinent, dominated by the monsoon, climate extremes and the great Himalayan rivers, such as the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra. It’s a tale of drought, flooding, famine, water management and mismanagement — and, looming over all these today, the uncertain consequences of climate change.
12th Dec 2018 - Nature
World weatherwatch: torrential rain brings flash floods to Sydney
Torrential rains have brought flash flooding to Sydney
5th Dec 2018 - The Guardian
Floods - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 3rd Dec 2018
View this newsletter in fullDevastating floods hit Languedoc vineyard region
Whole vineyards were submerged by water following mass flooding in the Aude region of southern France, which is reported to have killed 14 people and caused tens of millions of euros-worth of damage to property.
24th Nov 2018 - decanter.com
Petra floods: At least 12 dead as thousands of tourists flee ancient city in Jordan
At least 12 people have died after flash floods hit Jordan and forced 4,000 tourists to evacuate the ancient city of Petra. Visitors were forced to run for higher ground as a deluge of water surged through a narrow canyon and flooded the historic site in ...
10th Nov 2018 - London Evening Standard
California wildfires: Rain will help stop the blaze but brings danger of flash floods
The National Weather Service has warned about the threat of flash floods with rain predicted for areas in northern California affected by the state's deadliest wildfire.
22nd Nov 2018 - The Independent
Floods - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 17th Nov 2018
View this newsletter in fullJordan: flash floods kill 12 and force tourists to flee
Death toll rises a day after floods struck in several areas including the popular tourist spot of Petra
11th Nov 2018 - The Guardian
Deadly flash floods hit Jordan's iconic city of Petra
10th Nov 2018 - BBC
Italy disaster: 11 regions declare state of emergency as bad weather floods country
Italy has been ravaged by bad weather sending 11 regions into a state of emergency on the same day Sicily is paying respect to the nine people who died after they remained trapped in their house during a storm.
7th Nov 2018 - Express.co.uk
Shocking photos and videos show the chaos caused by flash floods in Kuala Lumpur
Flash floods in Malaysia's capital city brought roads to a standstill over the weekend
12th Nov 2018 -
Freak Weather: Extreme deluge strikes Middle East - Mass flood sweeps desert
Extreme and unprecedented weather has struck the Middle East this week - unleashing a deluge of torrential rain and lightning storms across ancient sites and deserts in Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
10th Nov 2018 - Express.co.uk
Venice flooding is getting worse – and the city’s grand plan won’t save it
Upcoming research conducted at the National Research Centre of Venice (CNR) shows that, without intervention, within 50 years this kind of flooding could occur with nearly every high tide. In fact, some experts have argued that Venice will be gone by the year 2100.
12th Nov 2018 - The Conversation
Drop of common sense: are humans to blame for the floods that have ravaged Spain's Costa Del Sol?
Heavy rainfall is not a recent phenomenon, but Mediterranean sea warming and building in the wrong places is adding to the recent flooding problems.
11th Nov 2018 - The Olive Press
Tibet evacuates 25000 people from landslide-formed barrier lake
More than 25,000 people have been evacuated from the homes in the Tibet Autonomous Region as water levels continue to rise in a landslide-formed barrier lake, local authorities said Sunday. The municipal government of Changdu in Tibet said the water ...
11th Nov 2018 - Global Times
Floods - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 6th Nov 2018
View this newsletter in fullItaly floods: Death toll climbs to 17, as 14 million trees destroyed
Heavy rain and gales lashing parts of Italy have killed at least 17 people and razed thousands of hectares of forest, destroying 14 million trees.
5th Nov 2018 - The Independent
Venice floods: Tourist city suffers worst flooding in decade as nine deaths reported across Italy in stormy weather
6th Nov 2018 - London Evening Standard
Nine dead and Venice flooded as extreme weather hits Italy
30th Oct 2018 - CNN International
Research-into-Action brief: Post-disaster educational continuity in urban floods
This brief explores how the evidence shows that flood (and associated hazards) affected people are not helpless bystanders but active first-responders and change agents.
6th Nov 2018 - Prevention Web
Melbourne weather: Flash flooding as massive deluge hits
Thousands of Victorians were left power after a slow-moving storm caused flash flooding in Melbourne, with half of the city's November rainfall arriving in just three hours.
6th Nov 2018 - 9news.com.au
Deadly Flash Floods Spark Emergency in Padang, Indonesia
The Indonesian city of Padang, the capital of West Sumatra, declared a state of emergency after flash floods hit seven districts in the city on Friday, November 2, killing two children.
5th Nov 2018 - Yahoo!
France weather: Red alert as flash floods kill 10 in south-west
At least 10 people have been killed by flash floods in the Aude region of southern France.
15th Oct 2018 - BBC
Search for missing after 15 killed in Europe floods
The search continues for missing people following flash flooding in parts of Spain, Italy, and France.
11th Oct 2018 - BBC
Floods - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 15th Oct 2018
View this newsletter in fullTwo Britons among 10 dead in Majorca flooding
Two Britons are among at least 10 people killed during flooding on the Spanish island of Majorca.
10th Oct 2018 - Sky News
British couple in their seventies are killed when their taxi is swept away in Majorca flash floods
11th Oct 2018 - Daily Mail
Mallorca hit by deadly flash floods – video
10th Oct 2018 - The Guardian
Death toll from Nigeria floods reaches 199
The death toll from floods across much of central and southern Nigeria has reached 199 almost doubling the number of people killed from three weeks earlier.
10th Oct 2018 - Reuters
Central America: Floods and landslides
Heavy rains from two low pressure systems along Central America and the Caribbean affected Central American countries since October 4 , resulting in flash floods and mudslides across western Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the coast of Guatemala.
8th Oct 2018 - ReliefWeb
Floods - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 10th Oct 2018
View this newsletter in fullFlood waters rise, eight killed as Florence dumps 'epic' rain on Carolinas
Tropical Storm Florence dumped “epic” amounts of rain on North and South Carolina as it trudged inland, knocking out power and causing at least eight deaths as floodwaters that have devastated many communities kept rising.
15th Sep 2018 - Reuters
Runoff, flooding caused by typhoon ravage North
Forest runoff and heavy flooding caused by typhoon Mangkhut swept through several northern provinces overnight and into Tuesday, with the Meteorological Department warning the North and Northeast of Thailand of more rain.
18th Sep 2018 - Bangkok Post
Ships destroyed, homes ruined and buildings flooded after cyclone 'Zorba' batters Greece with winds of 55mph and torrential rain
Greece was battered by cyclone 'Zorba' today which brought flash floods and torrential rain across parts of the country. Ships were submerged and partially destroyed by the extreme weather, while ships were held at Greece's main ports. There was heavy delays to traffic and power outages were reported.
29th Sep 2018 - Daily Mail
Nigeria floods death toll hits 199
Heavy rains and flooding in 12 states deemed a national disaster with hundreds of thousands facing a cholera outbreak.
27th Sep 2018 - AlJazeera
The terrifying, destructive force of glacial floods, and the growing threat to millions
Glaciers found in the country's awe-inspiring mountain ranges are melting as global temperatures rise. The meltwater collects as glacial lakes that are often only held back by thinning ice walls, or fragile earth banks.
26th Sep 2018 - The Telegraph
Floods - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 7th Sep 2018
View this newsletter in fullThousands displaced by Laos floods at risk from "moving" landmines
Much of Laos is still contaminated by landmines, despite decades of clearance efforts, with about 300 new casualties each year, many of them children
8th Aug 2018 - South China Morning Post
Lynchburg floods: Flooding dam sparks evacuations in US city
Evacuation orders have been issued in parts of Lynchburg, Virginia, over fears a dam may fail amid flooding.
3rd Aug 2018 - BBC
Floods - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 3rd Aug 2018
View this newsletter in fullLaos Dam Collapses, and Hundreds Are Missing
Hundreds of people were missing on Tuesday after a billion-dollar hydropower dam that was under construction in Laos collapsed, killing several people and displacing more than 6,600 others, a state news agency said.
24th Jul 2018 - New York Times
Hundreds Are Missing After a Hydropower Dam Collapsed in Southern Laos
24th Jul 2018 - Time
Laos dam collapse leaves several dead, hundreds missing after flood hits villages
24th Jul 2018 - ABC.Net.au
Japan floods and landslides kill dozens; millions evacuated
Heavy rains pounded southwest Japan, triggering flooding and landslides that killed 57 people and forced 2 million others to flee their homes
8th Jul 2018 - CNN
Japan floods: Death toll rises to 176 as Abe visits affected areas
11th Jul 2018 - CNN
Japan floods: Death toll rises to 200 as UN offers assistance
12th Jul 2018 - CNN
Japan floods: "Training thunderstorms" made floods even deadlier
14th Jul 2018 - CNN
Japan floods: Fears of disease outbreaks as death toll tops 200
17th Jul 2018 - The Telegraph
"Mini tsunami" hits Majorca and Menorca, flooding beaches and restaurants
A weather phenomenon known as a meteotsunami was blamed for the flooding which affected Ciutadella, on the west coast of Menorca, and Alcudia in the north of Majorca.
18th Jul 2018 - Sky News
At least 49 killed, 20 missing in Nigeria floods
Flooding caused by torrential rains on Nigeria's border with Niger has left 49 people dead and another 20 missing, the emergency services said. Five villages in Jibia district were affected after a river burst its banks following hours of torrential rain.
17th Jul 2018 - news24.com
Google teams up with Indian government to help forecast floodsk
Google is to team up with India's government and use its expertise in digital mapping to improve forecasts for deadly floods.
12th Jul 2018 - The Telegraph
Floods - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 9th Jul 2018
View this newsletter in fullCoral reefs save billions of dollars worldwide by preventing floods
Coral reefs act as a natural flood protection barrier from powerful ocean storms, but with reefs in danger around the world, much of this valuable flood protection could be lost. A study pinpoints the value of coral reefs, finding coastal flood-related damages around the world would be twice what they are now if not for this natural flood barrier.
12th Jun 2018 - USA Today
Loss Of Coral Reefs May Cause Extreme Flooding: Here is How To Save The World and its Natural Breakwaters
13th Jun 2018 - Tech Times
Flooding And Rising Seas Threaten America’s Oldest Farmland
Maryland’s Eastern Shore has been impacted by climate change, the phenomenon is hurting farmers in the region. Kate Tully, an agro-ecologist with the University of Maryland believes that the Atlantic Ocean is heating up and it’s expanding causing higher tides and more flooding.
2nd Jul 2018 - Wamu.org
7 killed and 12 missing in floods, landslides in northern Vietnam
Flash floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains have killed at least seven people and left 12 missing in northern Vietnam since last Saturday (June 23).
25th Jun 2018 - The Straits Times
Days of torrential rain lead to Texas worst flooding since Hurricane Harvey
Days of torrential rain have led to widespread flooding in southeastern Texas, the state's worst floods since Hurricane Harvey last year.
22nd Jun 2018 - USA Today
Flooding kills at least 18 in Ivory Coast Abidjan
At least 18 people were killed by flooding in Ivory Coast’s commercial capital Abidjan on Tuesday after intense rainfall overnight, authorities said.
19th Jun 2018 - Reuters
60 Sinkholes open in Michigan after flash floods strike upper midwest
The upper Midwest experienced a deluge of rainfall and flash flooding over the weekend that caused 60 sinkholes in Michigan and other damage.
18th Jun 2018 - Newsweek
Assam flood toll is 11, over 5 lakh affected
Flood fury continued in Assam on Monday with two more deaths reported from Barak Valley, taking the flood-related death toll to 11, even as over five lakh people were affected in six districts.
18th Jun 2018 - The Economic Times
Tropical storm floods southern China
Tropical Storm 05W, known as Ewiniar, has deluged the Chinese island of Hainan and the neighboring coastal region of mainland China. Rainfall totals of 50 to 100 millimetres were widespread across the island and 112mm was reported in Dongfang.
6th Jun 2018 - AlJazeera
Flooding from high tides has doubled in the US in just 30 years
The frequency of coastal flooding from high tides has doubled in the US in just 30 years, with communities near shorelines warned that the next two years are set to be punctuated by particularly severe inundations, as ocean levels continue to rise amid serious global climate change concerns.
6th Jun 2018 - The Guardian
Floods - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 7th Jun 2018
View this newsletter in fullFlash floods in Afghanistan kill at least 34
Flash floods caused by heavy rain in the past week have killed at least 34 people in several Afghan provinces and caused serious damage to property and livestock, officials said on Tuesday
15th May 2018 - Euro News
Heavy rains, flooding claim 7 lives in N. Afghanistan
15th May 2018 - Xinhua
Afghan officials say 34 people killed in heavy flooding
15th May 2018 - Fox News
Flash floods in Afghanistan kill at least 34
15th May 2018 - Reuters
Lightning strikes and flooding risk as storms continue to hit UK
Thunderstorms will continue to strike the UK as hot weather brings the risk of flooding, travel disruption and power cuts, forecasters have warned. Those enjoying the half-term break have been warned of potential flash floods and sudden worsening of visibility amid heavy rain and balmy temperatures.
29th May 2018 - The Guardian
Flash floods hit Worthing, Littlehampton and Adur
Flash floods struck Worthing, Littlehampton and parts of Adur. Firefighters were called into action as thunderstorms and torrential downpours swept the county during the afternoon.
28th May 2018 - The Argus
UN, Somali Government seek $80 million in immediate relief for flood-affected populations
The United Nations and the Somali Government on Sunday launched a joint appeal for $80 million to provide immediate help for the people affected by recent flooding in the country’s centre and south.
20th May 2018 - UN News
Rising Sea Levels in the Netherlands: The Dutch Battle Against Flooding
While the United States continues to debate the validity of Climate Change science, countries such as the Netherlands are investing in R&D solutions to effectively address the challenges of tomorrow’s climate. Particular attention is given by the Dutch to water management solutions, as more than 26% of the country is located under the sea level.
15th May 2018 - Dutch Review
Lapland braces for worst spring floods in decades
The Finnish regions of Lapland (north) is likely to see flooding in the coming weeks, as warm temperatures set spring thaws in motion. The Finnish Environment Institute’s leading hydrologist Bertel Vehviläinen says that current data point to the worst flooding in 20 years.
14th May 2018 - The Independent Barents Observer
Flash flooding hits Hobart after torrential rain, snow falls in NSW
New South Wales was hit by Flash flooding with water sweeping away cars and with more than 13,000 properties losing power. Flash flooding also hit the suburbs of Blackmans Bay, Sandy Bay and Kingston on the city’s outskirts. The University of Tasmania’s Sandy Bay campus was closed after some buildings flooded and power was cut.
10th May 2018 - The Guardian
Lethal flash floods hit east African countries already in dire need .
Heavy rains and severe flash floods have left more than 300 people dead and displaced thousands of others across parts of east Africa, with Kenya and Rwanda being the worst hit.
8th May 2018 - The Guardian
Floods - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 3rd May 2018
View this newsletter in fullRohingya refugees face fresh turmoil as monsoon rains could wash away temporary homes and spread disease
Aid workers are scrambling to train emergency response teams as the coming monsoon season looms over Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, threatening to bring potentially fatal flooding and landslides.
21st Apr 2018 - Independent
We can’t engineer a way out of the cramped hell of Bangladesh camps
22nd Apr 2018 - The Sydney Morning Herald
Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh on 'precarious ground' ahead of monsoon season
21st Apr 2018 - CBS News
Flooding in Fiji claims at least four lives after Tropical Cyclone Josie
Tropical Cyclone Josie has caused severe flooding in parts of Fiji, with four people reported dead and one missing. Fiji Village reported four people were dead, while a 19-year-old man was still missing after he was washed away by floodwaters. The category one cyclone is moving southeast, away from Fiji, but heavy rain and flooding is still affecting the country. The Fiji National Disaster Management Office tweeted about 9.45am NZT that water levels were slowly receding, and roads were starting to reopen.
2nd Apr 2018 - Stuff.co.nz
‘Scary’ floodwaters engulf homes in western Fiji as 4 die over Easter
2nd Apr 2018 - Asia Pacific Report
Day of dramatic weather in Kashmir Valley
Marking the first major wet spell of the season, rains continued to lash plains of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday with Qazigund in southern Kashmir recording the highest rainfall at 31.4 mm by Friday afternoon.
21st Apr 2018 - Kashmir Reader
Evacuations ordered in parts of B.C.'s Okanagan due to flooding, mudslides
Multiple evacuation orders have been issued to residents of British Columbia’s Okanagan region due to threats of mudslides and flooding.
21st Apr 2018 - National Post
Climate change: Ganges might swell to twice its capacity, flooding northern India
Several countries across the world face a serious risk of food shortage if temperatures go beyond the Paris Accords' agreed upon two degree Celsius rise over the next few decades. The biggest risk to food sustainability comes from floods and droughts. A new study carried out by the University of Exeter, has found that conditions might get so severe that rivers like Ganges and Amazon will likely swell up, flooding large regions. Ganges runs through China, Nepal, Bhutan, India, and Bangladesh. Over 630 million people live along this river and in the coming century, that number will only get bigger.
2nd Apr 2018 - International Business Times India
India at risk of food shortage due to climate change, says study
Warming is expected to lead to wetter conditions on average - with floods putting food production at risk - but agriculture could also be harmed by more frequent and prolonged droughts in some areas, researchers have said.
2nd Apr 2018 - News Nation India
Super typhoon may flood one third of central Tokyo
One third of central Tokyo could be left under water and nearly four million people affected if a super typhoon strikes the capital causing storm surges, a new study from local authorities has warned. The Tokyo metropolitan government unveiled its first estimate of the Japanese capital's vulnerability to damage from typhoon-related high tidal waves Friday, as risks of storm damage continue to increase globally. According to the report, 212 square kilometres (85 square miles), or one third of the capital's central area, could be inundated to a maximum depth of 10 metres (33 feet) if a super typhoon creates high tidal waves. A severe event of this type would be estimated to affect as many as 3.95 million people in the city, flooding business and entertainment districts as well as major railway stations, the local government said
1st Apr 2018 - The Nation
Floods - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 4th Apr 2018
View this newsletter in fullClimate change: Ganges might swell to twice its capacity, flooding northern India
Several countries across the world face a serious risk of food shortage if temperatures go beyond the Paris Accords' agreed upon two degree Celsius rise over the next few decades. The biggest risk to food sustainability comes from floods and droughts. A new study carried out by the University of Exeter, has found that conditions might get so severe that rivers like Ganges and Amazon will likely swell up, flooding large regions. Ganges runs through China, Nepal, Bhutan, India, and Bangladesh. Over 630 million people live along this river and in the coming century, that number will only get bigger.
2nd Apr 2018 - International Business Times India
India at risk of food shortage due to climate change, says study
Warming is expected to lead to wetter conditions on average - with floods putting food production at risk - but agriculture could also be harmed by more frequent and prolonged droughts in some areas, researchers have said.
2nd Apr 2018 - News Nation India
Flooding in Fiji claims at least four lives after Tropical Cyclone Josie
Tropical Cyclone Josie has caused severe flooding in parts of Fiji, with four people reported dead and one missing. Fiji Village reported four people were dead, while a 19-year-old man was still missing after he was washed away by floodwaters. The category one cyclone is moving southeast, away from Fiji, but heavy rain and flooding is still affecting the country. The Fiji National Disaster Management Office tweeted about 9.45am NZT that water levels were slowly receding, and roads were starting to reopen.
2nd Apr 2018 - Stuff.co.nz
‘Scary’ floodwaters engulf homes in western Fiji as 4 die over Easter
2nd Apr 2018 - Asia Pacific Report
Super typhoon may flood one third of central Tokyo
One third of central Tokyo could be left under water and nearly four million people affected if a super typhoon strikes the capital causing storm surges, a new study from local authorities has warned. The Tokyo metropolitan government unveiled its first estimate of the Japanese capital's vulnerability to damage from typhoon-related high tidal waves Friday, as risks of storm damage continue to increase globally. According to the report, 212 square kilometres (85 square miles), or one third of the capital's central area, could be inundated to a maximum depth of 10 metres (33 feet) if a super typhoon creates high tidal waves. A severe event of this type would be estimated to affect as many as 3.95 million people in the city, flooding business and entertainment districts as well as major railway stations, the local government said
1st Apr 2018 - The Nation
Done - Super typhoon may flood a third of Tokyo
1st Apr 2018 - The Straits Times
Floods Spark State of Emergency in Northern Greece (video)
A state of emergency has been declared in parts of northern Greece after a swollen River Evros broke its banks, causing widespread flooding. The village of Praggi was among the areas in Evros prefecture affected by the floodwaters earlier this week. Now, the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace regions have been declared to be in a state of emergency as the authorities attempt to prevent more damage from the rising floodwaters. Local officials had called upon the government to declare the region in a state of emergency after the river rose above dangerous levels at Pythio in Didymoteicho. The region’s deputy governor, Dimitris Petrovic, said that the level of water in the river has been above dangerous levels for four consecutive days.
31st Mar 2018 - Greek Reporter
Northern Ireland floods: Half a million pounds for rivers
Half a million pounds is to be spent fixing rivers in the north west of Northern Ireland which were badly affected by flash floods last August. The Loughs Agency will spend the money re-setting the courses of four rivers which overflowed their banks.
Some of it will also be used to remove debris and manage overhanging trees. Fences will be erected along the banks to keep grazing animals out and improve water quality.
30th Mar 2018 - BBC
Racing to avert a monsoon catastrophe in Bangladesh
Almost surrounded by a chest-deep stream, they know the coming wet season in Bangladesh could bring the deadly dangers they narrowly escaped in Myanmar.
“None of us can swim,” says Mohammad, a father of three. “If we are here in the monsoon, we will surely drown.” With the rainy season a few weeks away, the Bangladeshi government, supported by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and its partners, is in a race against time to avert a catastrophe threatening the world’s largest refugee settlement. More than 670,000 Rohingya refugees have fled to Bangladesh since August to escape killings, arson and rape in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, many settling spontaneously on the unsuitable hillsides around Kutupalong.
29th Mar 2018 - UNHCR
Homes Hit, Residents Evacuated As South Siberia Snowmelt Triggers Flooding
The government of Russia's Republic of Tuva in southern Siberia says the region has been hit by floods triggered by melting snow. In a March 29 statement, the Tuva government said 88 homes were hit by flooding in the Kyzyl district, adding that hundreds of residents were affected by the floods, while rescue teams are providing people with shelter and food. Authorities in the neighboring Republic of Khakasia announced a state of emergency on March 28 as snowmelt caused massive floods there as well. Authorities in the nearby Altai Krai, where a state of emergency was declared on March 27, said on March 28 that two men had died in the floods.
29th Mar 2018 - Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty
Ten Years, Nine Floods: Local-Level Climate Adaptation in China
The Lanjiang river in Eastern Zhejiang, China, reached its peak water level of 100 feet the night of June 25, 2017. Lanxi residents remember this day as “6.25,” marking the worst flood since 1955. Elsewhere in China that month, 7.3 million people were affected by floods, landslides, and heavy rains in northwestern Sichuan Province alone. Northern Guangxi suffered direct economic losses of 2.9 billion RMB (US$460 million). In the autonomous regions, 92,000 people were relocated. Flash floods caused the deaths of 10 people and forced 76,800 people to evacuate from Shanxi Province.
29th Mar 2018 - New Security Beat
Floods - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 12th Mar 2018
View this newsletter in fullMonsoon floods and landslides threaten 100000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh
Nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh since last August to escape a military crackdown in neighboring Myanmar. Most now live in flimsy, bamboo-and-plastic structures perched on what were once forested hills. Bangladesh is lashed by typhoons, and the Rohingya camps are clustered in a part of the country that records the highest rainfall. Computer modeling by the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) shows that more than 100,000 refugees will be threatened by landslides and floods in the coming monsoon.
11th Mar 2018 - Business Insider
Queensland schoolchildren trapped by floods for almost a week wait to be evacuated
Torrential rain for much of the past week has caused flooding across the region, with the area between Cairns and Townsville declared a disaster by the state government and labelled an official catastrophe by the Insurance Council of Australia
11th Mar 2018 - The Guardian
UK braces for floods and water shortages as temperatures rise
The repercussions of the extreme weather are being felt across the UK, with flood warnings and water shortages threatening thousands of households. After last week’s snow, ice and freezing temperatures combined with the impact of Storm Emma, residents in London and south-east England have been told to use as little water as possible because of burst pipes. Thames Water said about 12,000 homes had no running water following the deep freeze and thaw, while several other water companies said they were also tackling multiple burst pipes on their networks.
5th Mar 2018 - The Guardian
How Architecture Is Tackling Increasing Floods From Climate Change
Sea level rise and increased rain have posed serious flood risks for several Asian cities. An Harvard graduate is trying to address the problem by implementing architectural techniques to mitigate the impact of floods on private and public buildings.
5th Mar 2018 - Forbes
Icy roads and floods still a risk as big thaw begins
Thousand of people in southwest England as well as in the North East and North West are at risk of flooding as temperatures rise and the snow that fell in recent weeks starts to melt.
4th Mar 2018 - Sky News
Brace yourselves for round two: North East to be hit by a second storm in less than a week after deadly ...
More bad weather expected in the East Coast after nine people lost their lives and several homes were destroyed by the deadly nor'easter 'bombogensis' which tore through the region on Friday leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. But officials warn that severe weather is still to come in areas along the East Coast this week.
4th Mar 2018 - Daily Mail
Floods - Environmental Hazards Newsletter - 1st Feb 2018
View this newsletter in fullMore than 200 killed in Philippines mudslides and floods as storm hits
A tropical storm in the Philippines has triggered mudslides and floods killing more than 200 people with many others reported missing, police and disaster officials said on Saturday. The casualties from storm Tembin, most of which occurred on Friday, were all on the main southern island of Mindanao. A search and rescue operation is underway for more than 30 people swept away by flash floods in the fishing village of Anungan in the south-east of the island, where five bodies have already been recovered.
21st Jan 2018 - The Guardian
Pope Tells Peruvian Flood Victims to Remain Faithful During Hard Times
Pope Francis told some 200,000 people at an outdoor Mass Saturday in an area of northwestern Peru that is still struggling to recover from devastating floods that took place last year not to lose faith during difficult times. “These times of being buffeted call into question and challenge our strength of spirit and our deepest convictions," the pontiff told the crowd at the beach town of Huanchaco just outside the city of Trujillo. "They make us realize how important it is to stand united, not alone, and to be filled with that unity which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit."
20th Jan 2018 - Voice of America
Washington's coast battered by major waves, flooding
A crowd of onlookers in Westport had taken to the observation tower to watch the show, and before long the area at the base of the tower had flooded with several inches of saltwater. The water overwhelmed the drains on Westhaven Drive and flooded the ...
20th Jan 2018 - Seattle Times
A look at the flood, ice damage on Newfoundland's west coast
The cleanup continues after heavy rain and fast-melting snow caused massive damage on Newfoundland's west coast last weekend. Over the last few days, new problems emerged due to rising levels of the Humber River, caused by ice jams.
20th Jan 2018 - CBC.ca
Residents of flooded Quebec City neighbourhood return to icy properties
Residents who were forced out of their homes in Quebec City's Duberger-Les Saules neighbourhood on Jan. 12 were able to go back Saturday and confront the damage. Heavy machinery was called in during the week to try to break the ice jam that had caused the nearby St. Charles River to overflow. Michael Pagé was throwing out pieces of drywall and debris from his basement. He says the water was almost two metres high.
20th Jan 2018 - CBC.ca
Hundreds of flood line calls unanswered
Hundreds of calls to a flooding helpline went unanswered during last August's floods in Northern Ireland, the BBC has learned. More than 1,100 calls were made to the floods line on 22 August as record rain fell across the north west.
19th Jan 2018 - BBC
Why Montecito's mudslide victims don"t need flood insurance to recover their losses
California courts have struck down policy provisions that exclude recovery for floods and mudslides, as long as they were set in motion by a fire. The leading case on this topic is Howell vs. State Farm, in which California Court of Appeal judges in 1990 held that exclusions for flooding and earth movements may not apply when they were caused by a fire. Klein goes on to say that flood insurance is "your best hope" to recover. That suggestion is wholly unacceptable due to the inadequacies and dollar restrictions in flood insurance policies. Virtually all victims who lost their homes in Montecito are entitled to recover their losses under their homeowners' policies.
19th Jan 2018 - Los Angeles Times
“We can't stop the rainfall, but we can stop the tide”: Meet the man who stops London flooding
If A, the amount of rainwater forecast to flow down the Thames, plus B, the height of the next incoming tide, equals more than C, the amount of water the river can contain without flooding, the barrier must be closed. As a result, Andy Batchelor works with a constantly updating bank of computer-generated forecasts. “We can’t stop the rainfall, but we can stop the tide,” he says. When the barrier was designed in the 1970s, terms such as climate change and global warming “weren’t even in the dictionary”, Batchelor says. It was originally designed to be superseded by other flood defences by 2030, but more recent studies have shown that it is robust enough to remain the Environment Agency’s main point of protection for London until 2070.
19th Jan 2018 - City Metric
Drone's-eye view of flood damage helps crews tackling repairs
Elevation was also important in assessing the damage at Rattler Brook, on the south shore of the Bay of Islands. "The amount of gravel and sediment and the amount of stuff that's washed away is absolutely extreme," he said. "When we got up in the air, again, it was to get a sense of scales. It's not even explainable until you actually see it." The elevated view helps repair crews get a better sense of what's needed for the work, he said, through three-dimensional models of the area. "When we take the data back and we actually do some additional analysis in a mapping environment, what we can do is actually measure the amount of fill required, or the amount of change," he said.
19th Jan 2018 - CBC.ca
Evacuations Begin Along Kiski River Due To Ice Jam Flooding Concerns
Armstrong County 911 reported late Thursday night that about 65 people were evacuated from the Leechburg area because of flooding problems. The concern focuses on the massive ice jam on the Kiski River. Like the weather itself, ice jams are unpredictable and no one can say specifically when or how they’ll break up – in huge chunks or in small pieces – and causing more more flooding problems downstream.
18th Jan 2018 - CBS Pittsburgh / KDKA
Lawsuit: Army Corps knew for decades about Katy flooding risks
The lawsuit alleges that in its 1962 Reservoir Regulation Manual, the Corps' own data showed that federal engineers already had calculated that they needed to acquire 4,285 more acres of private land to accommodate the area that would be flooded by Addicks reservoir's maximum design pool. For Barker Reservoir, another 4,595 acres were needed. The problems got worse in the 1980s, when the dams were made higher and when spillways and flood gates were added, modifications that made the reservoir's maximum "flood pools" grow even larger, according to a raft of additional Corps' reports and studies cited in the lawsuit. According to reports issued in 1986 and later in the 1990s, the government knew that thousands of homes were at risk and still took no action, deciding to risk being sued.
17th Jan 2018 - Houston Chronicle
North west floods: Families still unable to return home
Dozens of families are still unable to return to their homes almost five months after flooding devastated parts of the north west. Hundreds of homes and businesses were flooded when record rain fell across counties Londonderry, Tyrone and Donegal last August. Ten families, tenants of Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) homes, are currently living in mobile homes. The NIHE said a further 13 Londonderry families also remain displaced. Some private homeowners are also still out of their homes.
15th Jan 2018 - BBC
River Floods Will Threaten Tens of Millions in Next 25 Years
According to the study, published yesterday in Science Advances, more than half the United States alone will need to double existing flood protections—through the building of new dikes, levees and other infrastructure updates—to prevent additional people from being affected in the future. Other regions around the world, including central Europe and parts of Africa, Central and South America, as well as large areas of India, Pakistan, Indonesia and China, will also need to take similar measures to protect their populations.
11th Jan 2018 - Scientific American
Build "rain gardens" to prevent floods, says Wildlife Trusts
New homes should be built with “rain gardens” to prevent future flooding, the Wildlife Trusts has said. The national organisation believes the small depressions which can accommodate rainwater runoff, as well as permeable drives and connected waterways, could reduce the likelihood of damage for millions of householders. Responding to the Government’s pledge to build at least 300,000 homes a year for the next four years, the Trusts also called for wildflower road verges and wildlife-friendly green roofs in new developments.
11th Jan 2018 - The Telegraph