Earlier this week, a 77-year-old retired man died in the floods that have been affecting the Alpine country for several days.
A five-year-old boy was killed and another injured on Wednesday, June 12, after a landslide in Austria, where weeks of heavy rainfall have weakened the ground. The child, who was with a woman and three other boys on a road near Graz, was swept away by a landslide of “about 100 cubic meters of earth.”
Quickly located, he could not be saved, according to law enforcement. Another 7-year-old boy was “slightly injured” and transported to the hospital by helicopter. Earlier this week, a 77-year-old retired man died in the floods that have been affecting the Alpine country for several days.
“The climate crisis is real, we feel its effects more and more,” reacted the Minister of the Environment, Leonore Gewessler, quoted by the APA agency on Thursday. Impassable roads, flooded cellars and fields with thousands of firefighter interventions in several regions: heavy rains have brought tributaries and lakes to alarming water levels while posing risks in wooded and mountainous areas.
As the planet warms, the atmosphere contains more water vapor (about 7% for each additional degree), particularly increasing the risks of heavy rainfall in some regions of the world. Moreover, while other factors come into play, intense rainfall is “the first direct cause of landslides,” as “slopes are saturated with water and therefore less resistant,” explained Michael Lotter, from the national GeoSphere geological institute.
As the planet warms, the atmosphere contains more water vapor (about 7% for each additional degree), particularly increasing the risks of heavy rainfall in some regions of the world. These more intense rains promote landslides. Slovenia and southern Austria are particularly exposed due to their location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, the Alps, and the central European Pannonian plain.
Since the 19th century, the Earth’s average temperature has warmed by 1.1°C. Scientists have established with certainty that this increase is due to human activities, which consume fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas). This unprecedented rapid warming threatens the future of our societies and biodiversity. However, solutions – renewable energies, moderation, reducing meat consumption – exist. Check out our answers to your questions about the climate crisis.
In addition to the devastating effects of climate change on the environment, it is crucial to consider its impact on communities and individuals. The tragic death of a young child in Austria due to a landslide is a stark reminder of the real and immediate consequences of climate change. The loss of life, injuries, and destruction caused by natural disasters linked to global warming highlight the urgency of taking action to mitigate and adapt to these changes. It is essential for governments, organizations, and individuals to work together to address the root causes of climate change and protect vulnerable populations from its effects. By raising awareness, implementing sustainable practices, and advocating for policy changes, we can help prevent future tragedies and build a more resilient society in the face of a changing climate.