2021 European Floods

In July 2021, several European countries were affected by severe floods. Some were catastrophic, causing deaths and widespread damage. The floods started in the United Kingdom as flash floods causing some property damage and inconvenience. Later floods affected several river basins across Europe including Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. At least 243 people died in the floods, including 196 in Germany, 43 in Belgium, two in Romania, one in Italy and one in Austria.

Belgian Minister of Home Affairs Annelies Verlinden described the events as "one of the greatest natural disasters our country has ever known." German minister-president Malu Dreyer of the Rhineland-Palatinate state called the floods "devastating". In addition to the confirmed fatalities, the flooding led to widespread power outages, forced evacuations and damage to infrastructure and agriculture in the affected areas. The damage to infrastructure was especially severe in Belgium and Germany. The floods are estimated to have cost up to €2.55 billion (US$3 billion) in insured losses, with the total damage costs being much higher, at a minimum of €10 billion (US$11.8 billion). In the aftermath, scientists, activists and reporters all highlighted the connection to global trends in extreme weather, especially more frequent heavy rainfall caused by climate change.

Weather events

Between 12 and 15 July 2021, heavy rain fell across the United Kingdom, western Germany, and neighbouring Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. A storm complex moved east from France into Germany and stalled over the region for two days. Precipitation was intense in the East of Belgium, with of rain over 48 hours in Jalhay and over 48 hours in Spa. Heavy rainfall was also seen in the south of North Rhine-Westphalia and north of Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany where accumulations averaged in 24 hours, equivalent to more than a month's worth of rain. In Reifferscheid, fell within a nine-hour period while Cologne observed in 24 hours. Some of the affected regions may not have seen rainfall of this magnitude in the last 1,000 years. Floods started in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland on 14 July 2021 after record rainfall across western Europe caused multiple rivers to burst their banks.

The European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) issued alerts of life-threatening floods in advance, which, although very vague, were delivered to national authorities.

Impact

Austria

On 17 July, a flash flood swept through Hallein, a town close to the German border. Rescue workers in the states of Salzburg and Tyrol were placed on high alert for flooding, and Chancellor Sebastian Kurz tweeted "heavy rains and storms are unfortunately causing severe damage in several places in Austria." A man died in Saalbach-Hinterglemm during the floods.

Belgium

On 15 July, all residents of the city of Liège with a population of approximately 200,000 were urged to evacuate amidst fears that the Meuse river was on the verge of bursting its banks and that a dam bridge could collapse. No vehicles were allowed into the city centre of Liège; traffic was only allowed to leave as part of the evacuation. By 16 July, several smaller municipalities in Limburg Province were also given the order to evacuate. In addition, due to the heavy flooding and because tens of home fuel tanks had broken loose and started leaking into rivers. A number of municipalities in Liège and Namur provinces were left without potable tap water. Around 41,000 households were left without electricity in Wallonia. Foundations of buildings near rivers became eroded and buildings collapsed. In the town of Pepinster on the banks of the river Vesder, at least 20 houses collapsed and 23 of the 31 casualties as of 18 July were found here. The town of Verviers was also badly affected and has more than 10,000 of its residents having to be moved because of homes having become uninhabitable. Widespread looting has also been a problem.

Precipitation was most intense in the east of Belgium, with of rain over 48 hours in the municipality of Jalhay, in the province of Liège -- an absolute record for Belgium, almost three times the average rainfall over one month in this location for July. In the town of Spa, also in Liège, of rain fell over 48 hours.

An empty passenger train derailed at Grupont when the track bed was washed out by floodwater, with debris strewn across the track. The Charleroi–Namur–Liège line, and all railway lines in Belgium south east of that line, were closed. The overall damage to the rail network was estimated to take several weeks to repair. Early estimates also pointed to severe damage to the agricultural sector of the country, including long-term effects like soil erosion. During the flooding itself, farms and livestock had to be evacuated and many fields were damaged and crops destroyed by inundation. The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps suffered damage to access roads and its digital safety infrastructure. The circuit was due to hold the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix on 29 August; damage was repaired sufficiently to allow the race to go ahead, although it was ultimately cut short after just one lap by further torrential rainfall and flooding at the circuit.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo declared 20 July a national day of mourning.

In the evening of 24th July, southern and central parts of Belgium were hit again by severe flash floods as a result of intense but shorter thunderstorms. Particularly the city of Dinant and its surroundings in the province of Namur were badly hit, where tens of floating cars resulted in a pile-up and in damage to railroads.

Croatia

The Slavonia region was affected by floods. Communities such as Našice, Županja, Nova Gradiška, and Osijek were flooded and heavy rain caused serious damage, especially for farmers. No deaths were reported.

Czech Republic

Heavy rainfall led to flooding especially in North Bohemia, and several communities near Česká Lípa had to be evacuated. The country promised emergency aid to those affected by the floods of up to 57,900 koruna (2270 euro).

France

According to Météo-France, between 12 July, 8:00 and 16 July, 12:00, of rain fell in Châtel-de-Joux (Jura), in Plainfaing (Vosges), in Le Fied (Jura) and in Villiers-la-Chèvre (Meurthe-et-Moselle

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