Floods
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Overflowing rivers cause widespread flooding in Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana

Floods in Region 9, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, Guyana, May 2022.
© Government of GuyanaFloods in Region 9, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, Guyana, May 2022.
Long-term rainfall has caused rivers to rise in northeastern South America, with flooding affecting communities in Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.

Guyana

Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in Guyana reported flooding in late May 2022 affected Region 5 (Mahaica-Berbice), Region 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice). Red Cross confirmed that 100 people were evacuated from areas near Lethem in Region 9, with a total of around 500 people affected.

As of 27 May CDC reported flooding had worsened in Region 10, in particular in areas of Kwakwani on the Berbice River, where 37 households were affected and 3 families evacuated. On 28 May CDC reported flooding in Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), in particular along the Cuyuni River.

Satellite imagery from the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) show satellite-detected surface waters in Guyana between 25 to 29 May 2022 compared with the period from 20 to 24 May 2022. UNOSAT said a total of about 3,900 km2 of land appears to be affected with flood waters. Around 22,000 to 50,000 people are potentially exposed or living close to flooded areas.

In an update of 30 May, the National Taskforce on Flood Monitoring, through the Civil Defence Commission reported flood waters have started to recede in most impacted areas, although more rain is likely.


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Deadly landslide after heavy rain in Guatemala - at least 7 people killed

Landslide in Los Pinos, Tucurú, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, May 2022.
© CONREDLandslide in Los Pinos, Tucurú, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, May 2022.
At least 7 people have died after heavy rain caused a landslide in Alta Verapaz Department of Guatemala following heavy rainfall.

The landslide struck in the village of Los Pinos, Tucurú, late on 27 May, 2022, destroying homes. A mother and her 6 children were buried under the rubble. Their bodies were later found by search and rescue teams which included firefighters, local volunteers and neighbours.

Wide areas of the country have seen weather-related incidents over the past few days. The country's disaster agency CONRED reported a total of 38,918 people affected in the municipalities of Villa Nueva, Aguacatán, Nebaj, Chiquimulilla, Solola, Estanzuela, Gualán and Zacapa.

CONRED added that so far this rainy season a total of 122 weather-related incidents including floods, mudflows, landslides and wind damage were reported, affecting 216,671 people, damaging 551 homes, 37 roads and 3 bridges. CONRED said a total of 10 people died in the incidents.


Cloud Precipitation

Floods leave Accra underwater - cars washed away in Ghana

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Flash floods hit Accra, Ghana on May 24th 2022.

Heavy overnight rain caused deep flooding, which affected low lying areas of the city.

Home's were flooded, destroying possessions and displacing residents. Damage was caused to roofs and walls, causing structures to collapse.


Cloud Precipitation

Best of the Web: Deadly flash floods and landslides in northern provinces of Vietnam - up to 3 feet of rain in 3 days

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Disaster authorities in Vietnam report at least 3 people have died after severe flooding and landslides in northern provinces following days of heavy rain, with more expected. Over 900 mm of rain has fallen in 3 days in some areas.

Heavy rain has affected areas of Vinh Phuc, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Hoa Binh, Dien Bien, Cao Bang, and Hanoi. In total, 317 houses have been damaged along with 19,000 hectares of crops.


Cloud Precipitation

Flash floods hit Recife in Brazil, streets turn to rivers

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Floods hit Recife in Pernambuco, Brazil on May 23rd 2022.

Heavy rain caused flash floods in the area of Recife, with residents in low lying areas advised to seek shelter.

Homes were flooded, with roofs, walls and possessions destroyed. Businesses and schools closed as buildings were damaged.


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Rising rivers affect 300,000 in Amazonas State, Brazil

Governor Wilson Lima visits flood hit areas of Anamã and Caapiranga in Amazonas, May 2022.
© Bruno Zanardo/SecomGovernor Wilson Lima visits flood hit areas of Anamã and Caapiranga in Amazonas, May 2022.
Rising rivers in Brazil's Amazonas state have affected over 300,000 people according to state officials.

Rivers including the Negro, Amazon, Jurua, Purus, Madeira and Solimões have been rising for some time.

The Negro River at Manaus, the state capital, reached above severe flood stage (29 metres) in early May 2022. By 10 May the level was 29.10 metres and by 23 May the Negro River reached 29.37 metres. Authorities in Manaus have begun building temporary walkways above the flood waters and disinfecting flooded areas of the city to combat the bad smell and diseases that can be transmitted by the accumulation of standing water.

In a report of 19 May 2022, Amazonas Civil Defence reported flooding has affected a total of 306,861 people from 76,715 families across wide areas of the state. As of 23 May, as many as 35 municipalities had declared a state of emergency.


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Floods and landslides leave 4 dead, thousands affected in Indonesia

Search and rescue operations at the site of a landslide triggered by heavy rain in Bogor Regency in West Java Province, Indonesia, May 2022
© BNPBSearch and rescue operations at the site of a landslide triggered by heavy rain in Bogor Regency in West Java Province, Indonesia, May 2022
Heavy rainfall has caused flooding and landslides in Indonesia where authorities say at least 4 people have died in and thousands have been affected.

A landslide triggered by heavy rain destroyed homes in Cipelang Village, Cijeruk District, Bogor Regency in West Java Province on 21 May 2022. Indonesia's disaster management agency said 4 people died and 5 were left homeless.


Meanwhile flooding in Kendal and Pemalang Regencies in Central Java Province on 22 May damaged around 2,500 homes and affected around 12,000 residents.

Cloud Precipitation

Evacuations after more flooding in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa - 9 inches of rain in 24 hours

Heavy rain and flood damage in Umdloti, KZN, South Africa, May 2022.
© eThekwini MunicipalityHeavy rain and flood damage in Umdloti, KZN, South Africa, May 2022.
More heavy rain has caused flooding and landslides in parts of KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa. Areas of the province saw devastating flooding last month which left over 400 dead and 40,000 displaced.

KwaZulu-Natal Prime Minister Sihle Zikalala said at a press conference, "Overnight on 21 and 22 May 2022, the province yet again underwent some of the worst storms that have been accompanied by floods resulting in destruction that comes with such situations.

"These heavy rainfalls have resulted into flooding of roads, human settlements, and damage properties. We understand that some areas are inaccessible and have become islands at this stage."

Around 240 mm of rain fell in Mount Edgecombe in 24 hours to 22 May 2022. The city of Durban saw 202 mm during this time and Sezela 151 mm.


Cloud Precipitation

Best of the Web: Tornado, huge hailstones and floods in France weather chaos

Massive hailstones seen in Vercel-Villedieu-le-Camp in Doubs,
© Météo Franc-Comtoise / @Meteo_FC_ / TwitterMassive hailstones seen in Vercel-Villedieu-le-Camp in Doubs, captured by Météo Franc-Comtoise
A tornado, hailstones the size of tennis balls, and roads looking more like rivers are among the phenomena seen this weekend, as thunderstorm alerts remain in place

A mini-tornado, rain, and giant hailstones have wreaked havoc across France this weekend, with a church spire destroyed in Indre-et-Loire, cars smashed in Doubs, and flooding in Essonne and Reims.

The church in the Indre-et-Loire village of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil was damaged by a tornado, with strong gusts of wind toppling the spire. The falling stonework damaged cars underneath.

The commune's salle des fêtes was also damaged, as were surrounding vines in the village's wine-growing areas. No human injuries have been reported.


Comment: For context, these are probably among the largest hailstones recorded in France in the modern era.


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Bangladesh floods recede but millions still marooned, at least 10 killed - worst floods in 20 years

Floodwater breached a major embankment in Bangladesh's Sylhet region, affecting around two million people, swamping dozens of villages and killing at least 10
© AFPFloodwater breached a major embankment in Bangladesh's Sylhet region, affecting around two million people, swamping dozens of villages and killing at least 10
North-east Bangladesh's worst floods in nearly 20 years began receding on Sunday, but rescue workers were struggling to help millions marooned by extreme weather across the region that has killed around 60 people.

Floods are a regular menace to millions of people in low-lying Bangladesh and neighbouring northeast India, but many experts say that climate change is increasing the frequency, ferocity and unpredictability.

In the past week after heavy rains in India, floodwater breached a major embankment in Bangladesh's Sylhet region, affecting around two million people, swamping dozens of villages and killing at least 10.

Arifuzzman Bhuiyan, head of the state-run Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, told AFP that the floods had hit some 70 percent of Sylhet district and about 60 percent of neighbouring Sunamganj.

"It is one of the worst floods in the region," he told AFP.