More than 1.8 billion people worldwide live in areas with a high risk of flooding due to climate change and human activities, according to a new World Risk Report released on Wednesday.
The report shows that in 2024, there were 142 flood-related disasters, making flooding the second most frequent cause of disasters after storms.
One of the hardest-hit regions was Valencia, Spain, where more than 220 people died in October 2024 after heavy rainfall caused devastating floods.
Experts from the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV) at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, say that the effects of natural disasters are being worsened by climate change, urban expansion, and environmental damage.
The report was produced in partnership with Alliance Development Works, a coalition of 11 development aid organizations.
Inequality Worsens the Impact
The report said global risk drivers include social inequality, structural vulnerability, and weak healthcare systems.
These issues are not limited to developing countries.
“This applies even to wealthy nations, for example, when cuts are made in key sectors,” the authors added.
The report stressed that many of the impacts of flooding can be reduced with effective prevention and preparedness strategies.
“The key is to be prepared before the rains start, with warning systems and shelters in vulnerable areas,” the report noted.
It also recommended training programs for communities and better water management systems to limit damage and save lives in future floods.
