Deadly floods of 2021—Researchers identify gaps in hazard mapping
The catastrophic flooding in July 2021 claimed the lives of more than 200 people in Germany and Belgium. The high death toll makes it clear that hazard mapping and risk communication must be improved urgently. Researchers at the University of Potsdam, the Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, the University of Louvain and Johns Hopkins University analyzed the locations and specific circumstances of…
In July 2021, catastrophic floods in Germany and Belgium resulted in over 200 deaths, highlighting urgent needs to improve hazard mapping and risk communication. Researchers from the University of Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, University of Louvain, and Johns Hopkins University studied the 224 deaths, discovering that many fatalities occurred outside officially mapped flood hazard zones, particularly affecting older people.
The study, published in Earth's Future, reveals that 50% of flood victims in North Rhine-Westphalia and 75% in Rhineland-Palatinate were outside the mapped zones for extreme flood scenarios. Lead author Annegret Thieken emphasized the necessity of incorporating historical floods and worst-case scenarios into hazard maps, as well as improving evacuation strategies, warnings, and support for vulnerable groups.
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