Severe rainfall from February 16-20 caused major flooding in southern Botswana and eastern South Africa, leading to at least 31 fatalities and displacing over 5,500 residents. A study by the World Weather Attribution indicates such extreme weather is becoming more frequent due to climate change. Experts stress the importance of upgrading urban infrastructure to manage the growing risks of flooding more effectively.
Between February 16 and 20, southern Botswana and eastern South Africa experienced unprecedented heavy rainfall, resulting in severe flooding that claimed at least 31 lives. Botswana’s government indicated that approximately 5,500 individuals were impacted, with over 2,000 people requiring evacuation.
A rapid study conducted by the World Weather Attribution (WWA), which comprises international climate scientists assessing extreme weather occurrences, concluded that such heavy rainfall events are increasingly likely due to human-induced climate change. Historical weather data reveals a discernible rise in extremely wet five-day rainfall events in recent decades.
The research further indicates that these five-day rainfall events are currently around 60% more intense, attributed to a global temperature increase of 1.3° Celsius (2.3° Fahrenheit) since preindustrial times, largely driven by fossil fuel consumption. However, quantifying the exact impact of climate change on the February deluge proved challenging for the researchers, as their climate models yielded inconsistent outcomes.
Co-author Ben Clarke from the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London remarked, “We haven’t been able to quantify the effect, but as the world is warming, we are seeing more extreme rainfall events like this one.” Climate scientist Joyce Kimutai also noted that a warming climate tends to retain more moisture, leading to more intensive rainfall that can overwhelm outdated drainage systems in rapidly urbanizing areas.
Piet Kenabatho, an environmental science professor at the University of Botswana, emphasized the urgent need for flood-resilient infrastructure in cities like Gaborone. He advocated for simple nature-based solutions, such as enhancing water absorption by greening areas impacted by urban development. However, Kenabatho cautioned that these measures alone are insufficient and urged the expansion and modernization of the city’s aging stormwater drainage system for effective flood management.
Implementing managed aquifer recharge schemes, as practiced in some other African nations, could enhance stormwater management by directing excess water into underground aquifers, he explained. “These concerted efforts will go a long way to improving flood management in Gaborone and similar environments,” Kenabatho concluded.
In conclusion, the recent severe flooding in Botswana highlights the critical intersection of climate change, urbanization, and infrastructure needs. As heavy rainfall events become increasingly common, cities such as Gaborone must adopt a multidimensional approach that includes both nature-based solutions and the upgrade of drainage systems. Without such actions, vulnerable regions will continue to face significant risks from future extreme weather events.
Original Source: news.mongabay.com
