Severe rainfall across northern Italy and central Europe, including parts of Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia, has caused numerous rivers to burst their banks, leading to the death of at least 13 people in Italy and forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes. The extreme weather has also reportedly led to landslides and the destruction of roads, hampering emergency response operations.
The Italian Red Cross is among the front-line responders seeking to rescue people, provide health services and organize emergency fundraising to support life-saving efforts.
In the WHO European Region, which covers 53 countries across Europe and central Asia, floods are the most common natural hazard leading to emergencies, causing extensive damage, disruption and health effects, particularly given the potential increased transmission of water and vector-borne diseases during these events.
The impacts of floods on health arise directly through contact with floodwater or indirectly from damage to health facilities, other critical infrastructure, ecosystems, food and water supplies, and social support systems. Such impacts can be both immediate and occur days, weeks or even months after floodwater has receded.
WHO has published guidance for individuals on how they can protect their health in a flood and offers the following public health advice.
- Avoid walking or driving through flood water or entering unstable buildings or structures. There may be hidden hazards, such as holes or fast-flowing water.
- Follow authorities’ instructions on evacuation. If you are advised to evacuate your home, take your essential portable belongings with you in a strong, waterproof bag.
- If ordered not to evacuate, move to a safe location with essential items, and if possible, the means to receive news, such as a radio or television.
- If you are stranded on something above the flood water, such as a tree or building, wait there for rescue and do not enter the water.
- Do not try to rescue pets or farm animals unless it is safe to do so.
- Avoid drinking unboiled tap water as it may be contaminated, unless local authorities advise otherwise.
- Do not return to your home until you have been advised that it is safe to do so.
- Keep children away from flood-contaminated grassy areas until a week after the water has receded.
- Have all home appliances, gas and electric, checked by qualified professionals before using them again.
- Heating and good ventilation will assist drying; leave doors and windows open whenever possible and safe.
- Diligently practice personal hygiene.
The mounting climate crisis has been taking a toll on the European Region in recent years, including through waves of extreme heat last summer that triggered wildfires in several countries, with multiple deaths reported. WHO/Europe has been urging Member States to collaborate urgently on tackling this challenge on multiple fronts, an issue that is the focus of the upcoming Seventh Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, which will be held in Budapest on 5–7 July.