Disaster as a Turning Point: The Lessons from the Swiss Flood of 2005

In August 2005, days of rainfall in Switzerland led to devastating floods. It was one of the country's most serious natural disasters in decades. Six people lost their lives and around 1,000 had to be evacuated. The damage amounted to over 3 billion Swiss Francs. But this catastrophic event has also led Switzerland to expand its flood protection measures.

At normal water levels, rivers and lakes are idyllic places, as here in Engadin, Switzerland. Credit: Benjamin Kanthak

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