"Over 1000 people died in south Somalia because of a flood that started in the middle of October. About 150000 people are homeless. The water destroyed villages, roads, bridges and airports. And this is not the end of disaster - it probably will not stop raining in a nearest future and scientists are expecting an epidemic of cholera". (Gazeta Wyborcza, 14.11.1997).

"Nearly half of the countries in nine states bordering the upper reaches of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers have been declared federal disaster areas. This is the first step in becoming eligible for federal aid, including direct grants from Congress, Federal Emergency Management and many other groups.

Illinois: In the fight against flooding rivers, 17 levees were breached, including one that flooded the town of Valmeyer and 70000 acres of surrounding farmland. One flood-related death was reported.

In Alton, the treatment plant was flooded Aug 1, cutting off water to the town's 33000 residents. Our levee did not breach, but the water came in through the street, the drains, anywhere there was a hole, at such rate that pumps couldn't keep up, says Mayor Bob Towse.

Statewide property losses may top $365 million, including damage to 140 miles of roads and eight bridges. Agricultural damage is estimated at more than $610 million. An estimated 4% of the state's cropland - 900000 acres - was flooded. In addition, 15727 people were displaced, 860 businesses closed and nearly 9000 jobs lost.

Missouri: The highest death toll - 25 - and the greatest property damage - $1.3 billion - of all flooded states were reported here. Statewide, 13 airports have been closed, and 25000 residents evacuated. Flooding on 1.8 million acres of farmland has caused about $ 1.7 billion in crop losses.

Heroic efforts apparently saved historic Ste Genevieve, which has been battling rising waters since the start of July." (US Today, 09.08.1993)

Every month in newspapers all around the world there are lots of shorter or longer information about floods. Now, in August 98, all nations looks intently at China, where, according to an official government's pronouncement, over 2000 people has lost their lives yet, but specialists from international organisations estimate the death toll to be even around 3000. 21 millions acres of farmlands are flooded, many big cities may be destroyed in a few days, because dams are too old, low and not resistant to such excess of water. All losses exceed over 21 billions of dollars.  Millions people were evacuated, services were destroyed, nobody is able to estimate now all the economic losses and the property damage. And doctors and scientists from World Health Organisation (WHO) are expecting an outbreak of epidemics, which will considerably enlarge the death toll.

It is the biggest and the most terrific flood in China since 50's. (And at the time of writing this article the Chinese are still fighting with water and nobody knows, how many more victims will die in these unequal battle.)

The coastal floods may be also very dangerous and cause destruction. Waves over 5 meter high destroy everything that happened to stay on their way. Floodwalls are not strong enough to stop tonnes of water. Also in many cases embankments are not a sufficient protection against the waves.

The south part of Bangladesh includes many flat islands formed by a deposition from the Brahmaputra and Ganges Rivers. This delta region is home to an estimate 40 million people, mainly farmers. However during the autumn, tropical cyclones funnel water up the Bay of Bengal, which becomes increasingly shallower and narrower towards Bangladesh. Sometimes the water builds up into a surge, which can exceed 4 m in height and may be capped by waves reaching a further 4 m. The result is a wall of water, which sweeps over the defenceless islands. After one such surge, in 1985, the Red Cross estimated that probably over 40000 people had drowned. The only survivors were those who climbed to the tops of palm trees. The Red Cross feared the outbreaks of typhoid and cholera because fresh water had been contaminated. Famine was a serious threat as the rice harvest had been lost under the salty water.

 Victims of the biggest storm surges in the last 40 years.