Floods
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Cloud Precipitation

Heavy rain triggers deadly flash floods and mudslides in Germany, Austria and Italy

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Wed, 18 Aug 2021 11:21 UTC
The Krimml station, track and a train of the Pinzgauer local railway in Wald im Pinzgau were completely buried.
© Wald MunicipalityThe Krimml station, track and a train of the Pinzgauer local railway in Wald im Pinzgau were completely buried.
Flash floods and mudslides triggered by heavy rainfall caused widespread damage across parts of southern Germany, Austria and northern Italy from 16 August. One person died and one reported missing in Bavaria, Germany. Flash floods in Austria buried a train in rocks and debris in Wald im Pinzgau, Austria.

Bavaria, Germany

Flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall were reported in Grainau in Garmisch-Partenkirchen district, southern Bavaria in Germany.

Police reported 12 people were swept away or stranded after flash floods from the Hammersbach stream swept through the narrow Höllental gorge situated at the foot of the Zugspitze, the highest peak of the Wetterstein Mountains. The area is popular with tourists and hikers.

A team of around 150 rescue workers were deployed to the area. As of 16 August, 8 people had been rescued, while the body of one person had been found and 1 was still missing. Search operations were ongoing.

Severe weather also affected northern Germany, where a tornado hit the village of Grossheide near the North Sea coast late 16 August, damaging or destroying more than 50 homes.


Comment: Cascading natural disasters: Following devastating flooding, F2 tornado touches down in Grossheide, Germany

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Cloud Precipitation

98 rescued, 35 missing in North Carolina floods after rain from Tropical Storm 'Fred'

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Thu, 19 Aug 2021 11:01 UTC
Officials said 10 to 15 bridges in Haywood County have been damaged or destroyed. This is a bridge in Cruso on the East Fork of Pigeon River, North Carolina,
© NCDOT WestOfficials said 10 to 15 bridges in Haywood County have been damaged or destroyed. This is a bridge in Cruso on the East Fork of Pigeon River, North Carolina,
As many as 35 people are reported missing or unaccounted for after flash floods in North Carolina brought by torrential rainfall from Tropical Storm 'Fred'. Governor Roy Cooper issued a State of Emergency on 18 August to activate the state's emergency operations plan.

In a statement, the governor said nearly a foot of rain (300 mm) has fallen over the past three days in some areas of Western North Carolina from the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred and the rains that preceded it, and record flooding is occurring. More than 98 people have been rescued from floodwaters in western counties.

"This state of emergency will allow our first responders to get into our affected communities quickly to save lives, restore power, remove debris and bring supplies," said Governor Cooper. "North Carolina is strong and resilient, and we're committed to helping people and businesses recover as quickly as possible."

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Cloud Precipitation

Deadly flash floods in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - at least 7 killed

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Thu, 19 Aug 2021 10:30 UTC
Flash Floods in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 17 August 2021.
© Mayor of Addis Ababa / TwitterFlash Floods in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 17 August 2021.
At least 7 people have died in flash floods that struck the city of Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia on 17 August 2021.

Several neighbourhoods of the city were inundated after heavy rain on 17 August 2021. Roads were submerged, cars stranded and buildings damaged. Rescue services said many had to flee their homes and images showed people taking refuge on the roofs of houses. Local media reports said dozens of people were injured and taken to various hospitals in the city. Visiting affected areas, Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abiebie said the efforts of disaster prevention workers have saved thousands of lives.

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Cloud Precipitation

Record rainfall causes flash floods in burn areas of Flagstaff, Arizona - 3 inches of rain in an hour

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Wed, 18 Aug 2021 19:01 UTC
Flood debris in Flagstaff Arizona, July 2021.
© Flagstaff City GovernmentFlood debris in Flagstaff Arizona, July 2021.
Officials in Coconino County, Arizona, reported record rainfall fell on burn scar areas on 17 August 2021, causing more severe flooding in areas around the city of Flagstaff.

In a statement of 17 August, Coconino County said rain began around midday, falling over the burn scar of the large 2019 Museum Fire near Flagstaff.

"By the time the large storm system moved out of the area, the entire burn area was saturated, resulting in the largest rainfall event to date," the statement said. An hourly rate of 3.07 inches (77.98 mm) was recorded in the south of the burn scar area.

"In addition, the rainfall was intense with over 1.14 inches recorded in at the south and west gauges in 15 minutes and 1.06 inches recorded at the east gauge. Not only was significant rainfall experienced on the burn scar itself, but also in the Sunnyside neighborhood. In an hour, 1.22 inches fell at Linda Vista and 1.5 inches was recorded downstream in neighborhoods. The rainfall recorded at the south gauge equates to a 200- to 500-year rainfall event," Coconino County said.

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Cloud Precipitation

'Don't come here': Swedish city of Gävle flooded after two months' worth of rain falls overnight


The Local (Sweden)
Wed, 18 Aug 2021 10:31 UTC
A residential area in Gävle covered in water on Wednesday.
© Fredrik SandbergA residential area in Gävle covered in water on Wednesday.
People in Gävle are being urged to stay inside after double that of one month's worth of rain fell in just the space of a few hours.

Just before 3am on Wednesday, fire and rescue services in the Gävle area sent out an official warning, urging people to stay at home due to heavy rain and flooding.

The warning was lifted later in the morning, but people were still told to be cautious after landslides were reported and roads caved in.

"Police are therefore urging residents of the Gävleborg region not to head out on the roads unless they have to. Police are also urging travellers not to come to Gävleborg," read a statement on the regional police authority's website on Wednesday.

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Boat

12 dead and 2.7 million affected by floods in Bihar, India

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Tue, 17 Aug 2021 18:49 UTC
Bihar Chief minister, Nitish Kumar, surveys the floods in Bihar, India August 2021
© Government of BiharBihar Chief minister, Nitish Kumar, surveys the floods in Bihar, India August 2021
Officials in the state of Bihar in eastern India report flooding in 15 districts has affected 2.7 million people. The Ganges River is at record levels in Bhagalpur and Patna Districts. Rivers across the state are above the danger mark in 26 locations.

Flooding has affected wide areas of the state for the last 10 days. As of 11 August, seven rivers in the state were above the danger mark in 15 locations, including the Ganges. Over 250,000 people were affected by floods across 125 villages in 5 districts.

Flooding has continued to worsen since then. The Disaster Management Department in Bihar reported on 16 August that flooding has affected 2.7 million people and 2,176 villages across 15 districts in the state. The department said that as many as 12 people have lost their lives.

Over 85,000 of those affected have moved from flooded homes to safer areas, many of them with the assistance of boat teams from the State and National Disaster Response Forces (NDRF). On NDRF team rescued a victim who had taken refuge on the roof of a hut for 2 days.

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Cloud Precipitation

Severe floods affects 3 states of Nigeria

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Mon, 16 Aug 2021 18:32 UTC
flood
Flooding has affected hundreds of families in the northern and northeastern states of Jigawa, Bauchi and Adamawa in Nigeria over the last week. At least 21 people died in road accident at a bridge destroyed by the floods.

Flooding occurred after days of heavy rain in the region. Local media reports citing local officials said over 380 households have been affected or displaced across the 3 states since 11 August.

Police in Jigawa state said 21 people died after two vehicles crashed into a bridge that had collapsed following heavy rains and floods in the state on 15 August 2021. One of the vehicles was a bus said to be carrying 18 passengers. The disaster occurred in Gwaram Local Government Area (LGA) which is situated near the Bunga River (also know as the Jama'are or Jamaari) close to the state border with Bauchi.

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Cloud Precipitation

3 fatalities after floods and landslides in 7 departments of Colombia

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Mon, 16 Aug 2021 17:57 UTC
Floods destroyed over 20 homes in Briceño, Antioquia Department, Colombia, Late July.
© DAGRAN AntioquiaFloods destroyed over 20 homes in Briceño, Antioquia Department, Colombia, Late July.
Three people have died in recent floods in Meta Department, Colombia, while Civil Defence reported flooding and landslides in 7 departments across the country over the last 2 weeks.

Flooding has affected the municipalities of El Dorado, Mapiripán, Villavicencio and Acacías in Meta Department from 10 August 2021. Civil Defence said 3 people lost their lives in floods in Acacías, while around 80 people were affected in Mapiripán.

The last 2 weeks has seen flooding or landslides in 7 departments across the country, affecting around 5,000 people.

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Cloud Precipitation

Thousands displaced by flooding along Shabelle River, Somalia

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Mon, 16 Aug 2021 11:48 UTC
Floods in Middle Shabelle Region, Somalia, August 2021.
© ARD-AFRICANFloods in Middle Shabelle Region, Somalia, August 2021.
Humanitarian organisations in Somalia report that flooding along the Shabelle River has forced thousands of families from their homes. Two young children reportedly died in the floods.

Non-governmental organization African Relief & Development (ARD-AFRICAN) reported flooding along the Shabelle River in areas between Jowhar and Balcad in Middle Shabelle region from 11 August 2021.

Several villages have been affected including Boodaale, where 2 children reportedly died and over 500 families moved from their homes to higher ground. Other villages along the river, including Xawaadleey, were also affected. A estimated total of 2,000 families have been displaced and 400 hectares of crops destroyed, ARD-AFRICAN said.

As of 15 August 2021, the Shabelle River at the measuring station in Jowhar was above moderate risk level (5 metres) standing at 5.10 metres, its highest level so far this year. High risk level here is 5.25 metres. The river has increased steadily over the last 3 weeks since levels fell in June and July. As of 27 July levels stood at just 2.5 metres.

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Cloud Precipitation

Best of the Web: Severe flooding hits Turkey's Black Sea region, AGAIN! Third such event within 4 weeks - Death toll rises to 58 (UPDATES)


Daily Sabah
Wed, 11 Aug 2021 10:54 UTC
Road collapse in Bartın
Road collapse in Bartın, Turkey
One month after floods and landslides killed six in Turkey's Black Sea region, heavy precipitation took hold in the region's central parts on Tuesday and Wednesday. A woman went missing in Bartın, one of the provinces hit worst by rainfall that triggered floods on Tuesday. Floods were also reported in Karabük and Kastamonu provinces.

In Bartın, floodwaters inundated a large number of houses and businesses, sweeping away vehicles after severe precipitation late on Tuesday. The heaviest damage was in Ulus district. Part of a road connecting the province to Karabük collapsed while bulldozers waded through floodwaters to save 20 people trapped in their houses. Search and rescue crews were deployed to the flood-hit areas. The province's governor Sinan Güner told reporters that they started receiving first reports of flood damage and stranded people around 3:00 a.m. He was speaking to reporters on Wednesday on a road closed due to landslides. "We rescued people stranded in their houses near river beds. Our crews also saved people trapped in their cars," he said. Güner said that an elderly woman went missing in Akören Söküler village after her wooden house had almost collapsed due to floods that carried her away. "There are many bridges, roads to villages and houses collapsed in the region," he lamented. The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) announced that 13 people were injured due to the collapse of a bridge on a road connecting Bartın and Karabük provinces.


Comment: Update 12 August 2021

Euronews reports that the death toll has risen to 17.

Bianet.org reports on some of the local rainfall numbers:
Precipitation on August 11-12

According to the reports of the General Directorate of Meteorology, on August 11, 2021, the amount of precipitation received by districts was as follows: Bartın Ulus - 90 mm; Kastamonu Küre - 198 mm, Pınarbaşı - 167 mm, Azdavay - 145 mm, İnebolu - 123 mm, Abana - 122 mm, Bozkurt - 117 mm; Sinop Merkez - 104,6 kg, Ayancık - 301,03 kg, Boyabat - 76,6 mm, Dikmen - 54 mm, Erfelek - 78,6 mm, Gerze - 72,4 mm, Merkez - 83,8 mm, Türkeli - 223,23 kg. The heavy rainfall is expected to subside in the region as of 6 pm today (August 12).
Update2 August 14: The Daily Sabah carries this AP report:
Deaths in northern Turkey floods rise to 44 as rescuers push on

FLOOD
© AP
At least 44 people died from disastrous floods and mudslides in northern Turkey, the country's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said Saturday.

Torrential rains that pounded the Black Sea provinces of Bartın, Kastamonu and Sinop on Wednesday caused flooding that demolished homes, severed at least five bridges, swept away cars and rendered numerous roads unpassable. AFAD said 36 people were killed in Kastamonu, seven in Sinop and one in Bartın.

Nine people remained hospitalized in Sinop, and one person was missing in Bartın province, according to the agency.

Rescue teams and sniffer dogs continued the painstaking task of trying to locate residents. AFAD said 5,188 personnel, 27 rescue dogs, 19 helicopters and two search planes were at the disaster spots.

About 2,250 people were evacuated across the region, some lifted from rooftops by helicopters, and many were being temporarily housed in student dormitories, authorities said.
Update3 August 15: Reuters reports:
Death toll from northern Turkey floods rises to 58

Flash floods that have swept through towns in the Turkish Black Sea region have killed 58 people, authorities said on Sunday, in the second natural disaster to strike Turkey this month.

The floods brought chaos to northern provinces just as authorities were declaring wildfires had been brought under control after raging through southern coastal regions for two weeks.

Forty-eight people died as a result of floods in Kastamonu province, another nine people died in Sinop and one in Bartin, the Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) said.

Drone footage by Reuters showed massive damage in the town of Bozkurt in Kastamonu province. Emergency workers were searching demolished buildings for the missing.


Torrents of water tossed dozens of cars and heaps of debris along streets, destroyed buildings and bridges closed roads, and cut off electricity to hundreds of villages.

More than 2,000 people were evacuated from affected areas, some with the help of helicopters and boats, the AFAD said.
Here is a report on the deluges that hit northern Turkey last month: Floods and landslides hit Turkey's Black Sea region for second week in a row

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