Issue Brief on “Impact and Lessons from the 2024 European Floods: Climate Change, Infrastructure...

Introduction

In mid-September 2024, record rainfall from Storm Boris triggered catastrophic flooding across Central and Eastern Europe, displacing over 25,000 people and causing widespread damage. The floods affected Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Italy and Hungary, with Austria and Czech Republic being the hardest hit. The disaster resulted in over 20 deaths across several countries, while infrastructure, homes, and essential services were severely impacted. The storm, caused by a confluence of Arctic and Mediterranean air masses, brought unprecedented rainfall, overwhelming river systems and causing dam breaches, power outages, and evacuations.[1]Furthermore, in late October 2024, Spain experienced one of its most devastating flash flood events in decades. An extraordinary volume of rain, over 500 millimeters within just eight hours, hit the Valencia region, wreaking havoc on infrastructure and claiming over 200 lives.[2] Climate change has been linked to the increasing frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events. The floods highlighted the region's vulnerability to climate-induced disasters and the need for stronger resilience measures.

Read More