In a rare event, 150 people died due to the floods that hit Europe, but what are the reasons that actually led to this tragedy?

exceptional weather

Climatologist Jan Guzel explained that "the air masses loaded with a large proportion of water remained in place in the atmosphere for 4 days due to low temperatures."

The result is heavy rainfall - between 14 and 15 July - whose level reached between "100 and 150 millimeters", or the equivalent of two months of rain, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

Although the area is accustomed to heavy rains, these precipitations were "exceptional in terms of the amount of water that flowed and in terms of intensity," according to Kai Schrotter, a water resources scientist at the University of Potsdam.

Climate change

Debate rages on this issue. European politicians have linked these severe storms to climate change, while the far right in Germany refutes this hypothesis and talks about "exploitation" of the issue.

Schrotter believes that "at the present time, we cannot say with certainty that this event is linked to climate change", but that these extreme weather events are becoming "more frequent and more likely" due to rising temperatures.

The warming of the planet increases the rate of evaporation of water from the oceans and rivers, which causes "more water to enter the atmosphere".

This phenomenon can increase the chances of heavy and violent rains, according to the researcher.

Overall, the likelihood of extreme weather events increases due to climate change, according to the United Nations Climate Panel.


Unprotected waterways

Suddenly the heavy rains swollen many small rivers and tributaries that did not have the capacity to hold such a large proportion of the water and were not protected by sufficiently high banks.

"The Rhine is accustomed to floods, and the biggest problem is the small rivers and their tributaries," said Armin Laschet, president of the "North Rhine-Westphalia" region.

lack of readiness

Some German media and experts accuse the authorities of not issuing warnings early enough to the population.

"Meteorologists issued warnings, but they were not taken seriously and preparations were not enough," said Hannah Cloke, professor of water resources at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom.

In addition, there is a lack of awareness of these dangers among the population living in flood-prone areas.

"Some of the victims underestimated the danger and did not respect two basic rules during heavy rains: the first is to avoid cellars that enter the water, and the second is to cut off the electricity immediately," said Armin Schuster, head of the government agency specialized in natural disasters.

Dozens of dead people were found in the basements of their homes.

urban planning

Some experts point the finger at urban planning in western Germany at the heart of the "blue banana".

The economic center of Europe.

"Urbanization - which is important in these areas - played a role," said Jan Guzel. "Were the losses that high (if they occurred) 40 years ago?" he asked.

Land treatment prevents water from seeping into the soil, which no longer plays the role of a sponge, increasing the risk of flooding.