2016 European floods

Flooding in France

FROM NASA EARTH OBSERVATORY

In June 2016, a slow-moving weather system unleashed several days of heavy downpours on western Europe, pushing the Seine River to heights not seen in 34 years. With the Seine’s water levels 6.1 meters (20 feet) above normal in Paris, flood waters knocked out electricity for thousands of people, interrupted road and rail traffic, shut down schools, and caused an estimated 1 billion euros of damage. During the worst of the flooding, the world’s most visited museum, the Louvre, closed as employees scrambled to move artwork out of basement areas that were at risk of flooding.

The map above depicts satellite-based measurements of rainfall over western Europe from May 22 to June 6, as compiled by NASA. These rainfall totals are regional, remotely-sensed estimates, and local amounts can be significantly higher when measured from the ground. Much of the rain—more than 400 millimeters (16 inches) in some areas—fell in central France within the Seine’s drainage basin.

The data come from the Integrated Multi-Satellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG), a product of the Global Precipitation Measurement mission. IMERG pulls together precipitation estimates from passive microwave and infrared sensors on several satellites, as well as monthly surface precipitation gauge data, to provide precipitation estimates between 60 degrees North and South latitude. The GPM satellite is the core of a rainfall observatory that includes measurements from NASA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and five other national and international partners.

The rains were fueled by a blocking pattern in the jet stream. According to the Weather Channel, an area of low pressure remained nearly stationary for days, sustaining persistent downpours in the region.

2016 European Floods

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2016 European floods
La seine sort de son lit - Pont Alexandre III.jpg

The Seine in central Paris on 3 June
Date May–June 2016
Location
Deaths 20+[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
Property damage € 1 bn+ (Bavaria alone)[12]

In late May and early June 2016 flooding began after several days of heavy rain in Europe, mostly Germany and France, but also Austria, Belgium, Romania, Moldova and the United Kingdom. Among others, the German states of Bavaria, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg, and North Rhine-Westphalia were affected. There was also severe flooding in France.[13] Beginning at the river Neckar, also the Danube, Rhine, Seine and their tributaries were affected by high water and flooding along their banks. At least 20 people have died to date.[3][4] Scientists say such extreme rainfall has and most likely will continue to increase worldwide and especially in Europe because of man-made climate change.[14][15][16][17][18]

Flooded countries[edit]

Germany[edit]

The Baden-Württemberg village of Braunsbach was most heavily affected by the floods. After flash floods on 29 May 2016, small tributaries of the river Kocher flooded the streets of the village within minutes, and the roadways were buried under rocks, trees and car wrecks. While no one was killed in Braunsbach, four people died in Baden-Württemberg alone, three of them in the floods, and a fourth victim, a 13-year-old girl, was killed while seeking shelter from the rain under a railway bridge in Schorndorf, near Stuttgart.[19] Among the dead were a 21-year-old man and a 38-year-old firefighter, who wanted to help the young man and died along with him in a flooded underpass in Schwäbisch Gmünd, engulfed in an open sewer.[20]

At least seven people were killed in Bavaria, where districts established “disaster areas”. The towns of Triftern and Simbach on the river Inn faced severe flooding. Three women were found dead in the basement of a flooded house in Simbach, and a drowned woman was found hanging over a tree trunk near the village of Julbach, after her house collapsed.[21]

On 2 June, it was confirmed that a fifth and a sixth person died in Bavaria: two men, aged 75 and 65, were found dead in Simbach. In addition, four people were reported missing.[8] Streets were swept away, bridges destroyed. The small Simbach stream had risen from half a metre to a level of 5 metres within hours. Two people were arrested under allegations of looting.[4][5] A seventh victim, a 72-year-old man, died in hospital after being rescued from the floods.[8]

On 3 and 4 June, heavy storms were reported in Southern Germany again.[22] Music festivals Rock am Ring and Rock im Park faced serious security concerns and heavy rainfalls. 81 people were injured at Rock am Ring festival, 15 of them seriously, after lightning struck the crowd on the evening of 3 June. Two people had to be resuscitated by paramedics; however, none were in a life-threatening condition.[23] Hundreds left the festival on 4 June, and it was temporarily interrupted for hours after thunderstorms were predicted, but continued in the evening. The festival didn’t continue on 5 June, because the authorities denied approval. The 90.000 visitors had to leave.[24][25][26]

On 4 June there were also floodings in Bonn on the river Rhine. In Polling in Upper Bavaria a “disaster situation” was reported by the authorities, in Lower Bavaria there were more than 140 rescue operations.[26]

Initial estimates of the damage amounted to € 1 billion, in Bavaria alone.[12] The flooded area there was twice as large as lake Chiemsee.[27]

France[edit]

Flood level of the Seine in Paris 2016 against the flood height of 1910

In France, the river Seine burst its banks and one town was evacuated. Four people died in the floods.[10] An 86-year-old woman was found dead in Souppes-sur-Loing, Seine-et-Marne, after her house was flooded.[3] A 74-year-old man on horseback died in Évry-Grégy-sur-Yerre, south of Paris while crossing a flooded field.[9]

Some areas reported the worst flooding seen in a century.[21] In the department of Loiret, six weeks worth of rain reportedly fell in three days.[3] Drivers on a highway had to be rescued by soldiers. In Paris, boat cruises were cancelled.[21] The Louvre museum barred public admission on 2 June to 3 June to preemptively secure the artwork in case of flooding caused by the river Seine.[3] Flooding in Paris was expected to peak at around 6.30 m above normal, higher than 6.18 m high seen in 1982, but below the 1955 flood level of 7.12 m, and the 1910 Paris flood which saw levels at 8.62 m above normal.[28]

Belgium[edit]

Floodings in several regions of Belgium came after four days of heavy rainfalls.[29] The floodings claimed at least three lives throughout the country. A 60-year-old man died between Harsin and Hargimont after being swept away by a river when he wanted to move his hives.[7] In Welkenraedt, the body of an 80-year-old woman was found, after Bayon stream bursted its banks.[30] The heavy rainfalls also took the life of an 83-year-old man in the Walloon municipality of Momignies.[11]

Romania[edit]

On Friday, June 3, authorities said that two people have died and 200 people have been evacuated from their homes as floods swept parts of eastern Romania. The interior ministry said 7,000 firefighters, police and others had been dispatched overnight Friday to help in flood rescue efforts. The ministry said in a statement that a man died after a torrent of water knocked him off his bicycle in the eastern village of Ruginești. In Bacău county, in eastern Romania, another man was found drowned.

United Kingdom[edit]

7 June[edit]

Strong thunderstorms spawned by unusually warm weather caused heavy rainfall and flash flooding across the south of England, particularly in London, where 35mm of rain was recorded in one hour, over two-thirds of the average monthly rainfall total for June. The south-east London suburbs of Mitcham, Croydon and Wallington were worst affected, with floodwater up to two metres deep recorded on roads in Wallington. The London Fire Brigade received over 100 emergency calls and attended to three incidents of cars being swept away by floods, rescuing one person.[2]

Flooding also led to a loss of electrical power at Luton Airport.[2] In Penicuik in Scotland, a primary school and a leisure centre were flooded as well as numerous homes, with severe hail also being reported.[31] Flash floods were also reported in Dunstable town centre and other areas in Bedfordshire, as well as parts of West Yorkshire.[32]

8 June[edit]

In London, Covent Garden tube station was flooded, with adverse weather forcing the closure of a platform at London Victoria station, while several bus routes were diverted due to flooded roads.[33] Islington, Clapham and Battersea were the worst affected areas.

Severe flooding was also reported across the West Midlands, particularly in Wolverhampton. Midland Metro services were suspended due to flooding in Wednesbury, while flooding at Tame Bridge Parkway forced the suspension of National Rail services between Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley. Additionally, both the M5 and A38 roads suffered disruption due to flooding.[34]

Greater Manchester was also affected by flooding, particularly in the towns of Oldham and Rochdale. In Middleton, rising floodwaters forced people to abandon their cars, while Middleton Shopping Centre was closed after water began to enter the entrance halls and some shops. Flooding was also reported at Middleton Arena and along the Broadway in Chadderton.[35]

Flash flooding in Windsor forced the evacuation of the Theatre Royal during an opening night performance after water began to enter the auditorium.[36] Flooding was also reported in Sheffield,[37] in Stoke-on-Trent,[38] and in parts of East Sussex.[39]

In Northern Ireland, a lightning strike at a primary school in Lisburn, County Antrim injured three people, including two critically.[2]

Casualties[edit]

Country Dead Missing Ref.
 Germany 11 4 [5][40][8]
 France 4 [10][9]
 Belgium 3 [7][11]
 Romania 2 [6]

Reactions[edit]

  • German chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her condolences to the relatives of the victims.[41]
  • Bavaria‘s minister of the Interior, Joachim Herrmann, announced financial aid for those affected.[4]
  • French president Francois Hollande stated that “when there are such severe weather phenomenon, we should realise that we must act on the global level”.[42] He said he has attended a meeting “so we can be vigilant regarding the rising water level, the peaks which might potentially involve more decisions” and noted that “what is happening now, especially in Paris and in some regions, is exceptional”.[14]

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