Which Country has the Biggest Flood? The Worst Flood in Modern History

Flooding is one of the most common and destructive disasters on Earth. This hazard has been present since the prehistoric era. Now, it may not be as enormous as Noah’s flood. However, the destruction and financial losses caused by floods have harmed many countries. Which country has the biggest flood?

Approximately 250 million people worldwide are affected by floods each year. Moreover, this hydrologic hazard causes an economic loss of 40 million USDs worldwide per year. Therefore, flood-prone countries must mitigate their flood risks to reduce the severity of flood effects.

Which Country has the Biggest Flood? Country with the Biggest Flood Risk 

Many countries are prone to flooding. However, some of them have higher flood risks than others. In other words, floods may affect more people in specific regions. So, which country has the biggest flood?

1. Country with the Biggest Flood Risk by Number of People

In terms of the number of people, China has the biggest flood risk worldwide. According to a report, floods in China may affect approximately 400 million people or 27.5% of the total population. The areas with the highest flood risk are those along the Yangtze River and the Yellow River.

China is severely vulnerable to flooding due to several factors. One of these factors is monsoon climate. From June to August, heavy rains often cause rivers to overflow in this country. Moreover, topography, urban development, climate change, and typhoons also increase China’s flood risk.

2. Country with the Biggest Flood Risk by Percentage of Population

In the Netherlands, flooding may affect over 58% of the country’s total population or approximately 10 million people. According to another report, approximately 70% of the Netherlands’ population lives in flood-prone cities, including Amsterdam and Rotterdam. 

Almost 60% of the country’s land area is prone to inundation. Flood-prone regions in the Netherlands are in the delta of the Rhine, Meuse, and other rivers. These regions are below the sea level. Therefore, heavy rains, storm surges, and river overflows may inundate those areas. 

Some regions in the Netherlands are also experiencing land subsidence. Therefore, sea level rise and climate change increase the flood risks in those regions.

What is the Biggest Flood in the World?

The biggest flood in modern history was the 1931 China Flood. This hydrologic hazard started from the end of June and reached its peak in August. Moreover, this catastrophe was not a single flood, but a series of inundations around three major rivers in China, including the Yangtze, the Yellow, and the Huai.

This flood was due to massive snowmelt and prolonged torrential rains. Consequently, those three rivers overflowed. Moreover, the dikes around the Gaoyou broke, causing inundation in this region. The 1931 flood affected eight provinces: Anhui, Hunan, Hubei, Henan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, and Jiangxi. 

In total, the flood covered an area as large as England. This catastrophe killed up to 4 million people. The flood also destroyed crops and caused tens of millions of people to be displaced. Moreover, it caused massive financial loss, epidemics, and famine.

Other Most Flood-Prone Countries 

As the most common hazard, floods often occur in many countries. They typically have a monsoon climate, suffer from deforestation or land subsidence, or experience rapid urban development. Below are the most flood-prone countries aside from China and the Netherlands.

1. India

Which country has the worst floods after China? India has suffered from many destructive floods in the past. Nowadays, about 27% of India’s population (approximately 390 million people) lives in flood-prone regions. Some of these regions are Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Mumbai.

2. Bangladesh

In 1970, one of the 5 biggest floods in modern history occurred in Bangladesh. This hydrologic hazard was due to a tropical cyclone and killed up to 500,000 people. 

Nowadays, inundation is still a major challenge in Bangladesh. This disaster threatens 95 million people, or more than half of Bangladesh’s population.

3. Indonesia

Indonesia is the fourth most flood-prone country in the world. Each island in this country has inundation-prone areas, including Jakarta, Semarang, and Bali. 

The number of flood-affected people also increases year by year because of climate change, urban development, land subsidence, and sea-level rise. Currently, about 75 million people in Indonesia are at risk of being affected by floods.

4. Pakistan

Not far from India and Bangladesh, Pakistan is also extremely vulnerable to flooding. Inundation in this region may affect 71 million people or 31% of the country’s population. The high flood risk in Bangladesh arises due to glacial melt, climate change, topography, and poor urban planning.

Which country has the biggest flood? China is a country with an extreme flood history and high flood risks. Floods have also killed hundreds of thousands of people in other countries. Thus, having a wireless flood early warning system is vital. Flood-prone countries can easily create this system if they have the broadcast technology from smsbroadcaster.com.