Wildfire in France

Wildfire in France

France is currently experiencing its largest wildfire in more than 75 years. The fire spread rapidly in the south of the country in the mountainous Corbières region, affecting more than 16,000 hectares [1,2]. A total of 15 municipalities have been affected, numerous...
Flash flood in the Himalayas

Flash flood in the Himalayas

Sudden and heavy rain caused landslides and flash floods in the Himalayas. The weather service had earlier issued a severe weather warning [1,2,3]. The village of Dharali in the state of Uttarakhand, located in the foothills of the Himalayas in north-eastern India and...
New issue of the Disasters Avoided newsletter

New issue of the Disasters Avoided newsletter

The july issue of the Disasters Avoided Newsletter focuses on the central role of financing and insurance solutions in proactively reducing disaster risks. The newsletter features an interview with Cherie Gray, Global Lead of Sustainability & Market Development at...
New Metop-SGA1 satellite for improved weather forecasts

New Metop-SGA1 satellite for improved weather forecasts

On 13 August 2025, the Metop-SGA1 satellite from the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) will launch from Kourou (French Guiana). On board is the METimage multispectral camera, a high-tech measuring instrument designed to...
75 years of THW missions

75 years of THW missions

The German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Since its founding in 1950, the organization has been active in a wide range of civil protection and disaster relief areas – from small daily operations to flood relief...