Floods: The Most Frequent Disaster Worldwide

Causes I: Too Much Rain (1/9)

Heavy monsoon rains turned Indonesia’s capital Jakarta into a huge lake in February 2008. In recent years, Jakarta suffered from more severe floods during monsoon season. Blocked and inefficient sewage pipes and waterways keep the water from draining and aggravate flooding.

Rainfall is the most common cause of flooding. Normally, excess rain water drains through rivers into the sea. But unusually high amounts of rain, melting snow and glaciers, and rivers that have been diverted from their natural floodplains all significantly increase the risk for floods. (Photo: Reuters)