Overcoming future flood risks means that sound flood risk management planning must be put in place at all levels.

This summer the Danube River Basin was repeatedly deluged by torrential rains causing massive floods. Across the basin people were forced from their homes, and many houses collapsed or were damaged due to floods or landslides after flood events.

At least 10 people died in the Czech Republic following heavy rains in June. Floods and torrential rain in June killed 24 people in Romania, forced 7,000 to be evacuated and damaged farms and infrastructure. In Serbia, about 10 people died in flash floods in rural areas. Thousands were forced to evacuate in over 900 villages and small towns in Slovakia in June due to floods that destroyed crops, and damaged buildings and cars. Casualties were also reported after floods in Hungary and Austria. Flash floods created lakes in Bulgaria’s capital in June and large parts of the country were flooded as well. Fighting floods was a cruel summer reality in many areas of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine and Moldova.

Long term forecasts indicate that torrential rains may become worse and more frequent with the potential effects of climate change. Facing future flood risks requires coordinated implementation of the EU Floods Directive. All Danube countries currently have national programmes for flood protection. The ICPDR adopted its Action Programme on Sustainable Flood Protection in the Danube River Basin in 2004, setting key targets for protection, prevention and mitigation, and action plans for 17 sub-basins were adopted in 2009.

Igor Liska is the Technical Expert for Water Quality for the ICPDR.