CRED Crunch, Innue no. 75 (July 2024): Hydrological disasters in South America

This CRED Crunch presents a cursory overview of flooding trends and notable events over the previous two decades in South America. Following the catastrophic flooding (as of July 2024: 181 deaths, 32 missing and over 2.3 million people affected) in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in late April 2024, hydrological disasters1 within the South American region have garnered additional attention. Flooding and related hydrological hazards are the most common types of disasters observed globally in EM-DAT, causing significant damage to property and people.

Understanding their impact is increasingly important as policymakers seek to manage disaster risk. Hydrological hazards are the most prevalent subgroup of natural hazards in South America and are associated with the highest number of deaths in the region. Floods comprise the majority of these hydrological hazards, although rainfallinduced mass movements also pose significant threats.