According to a new study by the Independent Institute for Environmental Studies (UfU), almost 400,000 people in Germany are at immediate risk from flooding.
The study, published on Wednesday, found that around 384,000 people in Germany could be seriously affected by flooding in the coming years.
About 190,800 of them live along the Rhine and its tributaries, while about 98,800 people living near the Elbe are also classified as high risk.
The study, commissioned by the Greens Group, is based on the flood risk management plans of the German states.
The authors say that the figures may change due to future changes, and point out that previous floods, such as the Oder River, suggest that current estimates may be conservative.
In February, a separate study commissioned by the German Insurers’ Association (GDV) indicated that more than 300,000 buildings in Germany are at risk of flooding.
The UfU researchers stressed the need to improve current precautions. “Although heavy rainfall can only be predicted in the short term, the development of monitoring systems and forecasting models remains important,” they said.
Julia Verlinden, vice-chair of the GroenLinks faction, called the findings “alarming” and stressed the urgent need to “adapt flood protection measures to tackle the climate crisis more effectively”.
