Since the beginning of the year, floods have caused great devastation and displaced thousands of people in countries around the world.
Studies show that heavy rainfall is becoming more frequent and severe in many parts of the world due to climate change, and experts warn that this trend is likely to continue.
Afghanistan, Brazil, Indonesia, Kenya, Oman and the United Arab Emirates are just a few of the countries that have been hit by severe flooding so far in 2024.
In each of these cases, rising water levels caused widespread destruction and left thousands homeless.
Here we will deal with the causes of floods, why they become more intense and what you can do to help yourself and others in case of flooding.
- How to restore life and dry the house after a flood, the fourth time in seven years
- What is the danger of floods in Serbia and how to protect yourself
- From siren to text message: Does the disaster warning system work in the Balkans?
What is a flood?
Floods, which are the most common type of natural disaster, occur when water overflows and submerges dry land.
Flooding can occur throughout the year, but climate change increases rainfall, increasing the risk of flooding.
Flooding after periods of heat waves and long periods of hot, dry weather can be particularly damaging.
"That means the soil is very hard and has dried out and cracked." When heavy downpours hit baked soil, it absorbs rainwater at a much slower rate.
"Water can only stay on the surface. This, in turn, can lead to surface runoff, which causes flooding," explains the British Red Cross.
Floods can cause massive destruction, leading to loss of life as well as damage to personal property and critical public health infrastructure.
According to the United Nations (UN), between 1998 and 2017, floods affected more than two billion people worldwide.
Those most vulnerable to flooding include people living on flood plains and those living in makeshift or poorly constructed structures.
Those communities that do not have warning systems or where there is limited awareness of the danger of flooding can also be very vulnerable, the UN adds.
Humanitarian organizations provide a vital rescue service when major floods strike, especially in rural areas where there is little infrastructure.
BBC is in Serbian from now on and on YouTube, follow us HERE.
What causes floods?
Flooding can be caused by heavy rains, rapid snowmelt, or storm surges from tropical cyclones or tsunamis in coastal areas.
There are three common types of flooding:
- Flash floods occur when rapid and excessive precipitation leads to a rapid rise in water levels, swelling of rivers, streams, other water channels or flooding of roads
- River floods occur when continuous heavy rainfall or snowmelt cause the river to exceed its capacity
- Coastal flooding triggered by storm surges from tropical cyclones and tsunamis
According to the UN, from 80 to 90 percent of all documented natural disasters in the past 10 years were caused by floods, droughts, tropical cyclones, heat waves and severe storms.
Why are floods dangerous?
Flooding destroys homes, disrupts traffic and bankrupts businesses.
People whose homes, businesses or communities have been hit by floods may need help for days, months or even years, the British Red Cross says.
"Only 15 centimeters of fast-flowing water can knock a person down, and 60 centimeters of water can sweep away a car."
Moreover, floods can overload drains and contaminate water, spreading disease.
"Floods can leave people in need of food, shelter, medicine, clothing and money.
"Some may need help getting back to work and traffic to get there."
- Five years since the floods: A torrent of water, but also "criminal negligence"
- May floods 2014: The days when "the water merged with the gray sky" and Obrenovac became a "swamp"
- Did 'cloud seeding' cause floods in Dubai?
Even for those lucky enough to have insurance, collecting it can be a pain after all, and insurers often refuse to insure a home after a series of floods or the premiums will be much higher.
Using the UK as an example, it can take "a year or more" to return home after a flood, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
A BBC report in May showed that nearly 100 flood-affected companies were still waiting for compensation payments more than six months after heavy flooding hit Northern Ireland.
In many parts of the world, those affected do not have any insurance.
How heavy rainfall causes flash floods
Many rivers gently meander as they gradually descend to the sea.
And that's why, when he said floods, it usually happens slowly because it takes a long time for the rain to soak the land and flow into the rivers and all the way to the sea, which gives time for preparation.
However, in the case of flash floods, there is often minimal time between the onset of rainfall and the first occurrence of flooding.
Flash floods tend to happen more often where rivers are narrow and steep, so they flow faster.
"It can also occur from small rivers in built-up urban areas, where hard surfaces such as roads and concrete do not allow water to flow into the ground," says the Met Office, Britain's national weather service.
"This leads to overflow and can often overload local drainage systems, leading to flash floods."
Trees, green areas and plants are useful for absorbing water and mitigating the effects of flooding in cities.
How to protect yourself from flooding
According to experts, here's what you should do during a flood:
- Wherever there is a threat to personal safety, call emergency services without delay
- Do not walk, swim or drive through flood water. Just 15 centimeters of fast flowing water can knock you off your feet, while 60 centimeters can sweep away a car
- Do not walk on seawalls or riverbanks
- Avoid contact with flood water. It could be contaminated with sewage water. If you are exposed to it, wash your hands and clothes thoroughly with clean water
- Do not let children play near or in flood water
Why are floods becoming more frequent and serious?
According to the UN, "the frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events are expected to continue to increase due to climate change".
As the world warms, the air can hold more moisture - about 7 percent more for every 1 degree Celsius rise.
As a result, there can be more drops and more abundant showers, sometimes in a short time and over a small area.
"Hotter air can hold more moisture. If the air has an unlimited supply of water, such as the ocean, then warmer air attracts more moisture. This results in clouds containing a greater number of larger raindrops, which could be the reason why summer showers are often more abundant than winter ones," says the Meteorological Office.
"As the climate continues to warm, the effects will intensify, and heavy rainfall is expected to become more frequent."
Scientists estimate that individual cases of extreme weather conditions can be attributed to climate change, taking into account natural and human causes.
In the case of the heavy rainfall that hit Dubai, the United Arab Emirates and Oman in April 2024, it was difficult to conclude exactly how much of a role climate change played.
This is because heavy rains in this region are rare, giving scientists fewer opportunities for historical comparison.
But cases of heavy rain of this type have become 10 to 40 percent more abundant, and the most likely explanation is climate change, according to the World Weather Attribution Initiative (WVA) group.
"If people continue to burn oil, gas and coal, the climate will continue to warm, the rain will continue to be heavier, and people will continue to lose their lives in floods," said Dr Friederike Otto, senior lecturer in climate science at Imperial College. in London.
In April, extreme flooding also hit parts of East Africa.
Scientists are racing to figure out the exact role of climate change.
In September 2023, northern Libya was hit by deadly floods.
It has been suggested that the impact of climate change has made heavy rains 50 times more likely, according to the VVA.
In addition, years of political instability have left countries in the region unprepared for such dramatic events.
Globally, heavy rains have become more frequent and intense over most land masses due to human activities, according to the United Nations' climate body IPCC.
This pattern will continue with additional warming, the IPCC warns.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube i Viber. If you have a topic proposal for us, contact us at bbcnasrpskom@bbc.co.uk
Bonus video:
