Recent Events
What is currently happening in the world? Selected news items are presented here to provide an overview of current and important events. The importance of disaster prevention at both national and international level is highlighted.
Recent Events
CEDIM presents DFA Task Force report on the June heatwave
The heatwave in June 2026 ranks among the most exceptional heat events ever observed in Europe. Between 13 and 29 June, it was felt across large parts of western, central and southern Europe and was accompanied by record-breaking daytime temperatures, exceptionally...
Five Years After the 2021 Flood—Changing Research Perspectives
From July 2 to 4, 2026, the conference “Five Years After the 2021 Flood—Changing Research Perspectives” took place on the Remagen campus. Together with numerous partner institutions from academia, the professional sector, and disaster preparedness, participants...
Cyclone Gezani hits Madagascar hard – THW provides relief supplies
On 10 February 2026, tropical cyclone Gezani hit the east coast of Madagascar with wind speeds of up to 250 kilometres per hour, causing severe devastation. According to official reports, at least 31 people were killed and many more were injured. Several people are...
Severe flooding in southern Africa – hundreds of thousands affected
In recent weeks, exceptionally heavy and persistent rainfall has flooded large parts of southern Africa. Mozambique and north-eastern South Africa have been particularly hard hit, but Zimbabwe and other countries in the region are also reporting severe damage....
Series of winter storms causes severe flooding in North Africa and Southern Europe
A series of winter storms has caused severe flooding in Morocco, Spain and Portugal in recent days. People have lost their lives in several regions, hundreds of thousands have been forced to leave their homes, and the damage to infrastructure, agriculture and...
CEDIM report on landscape fires in south-central Chile published
The CEDIM – Center for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Technology has published a new forensic disaster report on the landscape fires in south-central Chile in January 2026. The report analyzes the fires in the regions of Biobío, Ñuble, and La Araucanía, which...
Severe winter storm brings large parts of the United States to a standstill
A powerful winter storm swept across large parts of the United States over the weekend, placing more than 140 million people under winter storm warnings. Snow, sleet, and freezing rain led to hazardous road conditions, major travel disruptions, and widespread power...
Power outage in Berlin – results of quick response research
On Saturday, January 3, 2026, there was a significant interruption to the power supply in the Berlin district of Steglitz-Zehlendorf. The districts of Nikolassee, Whensee, Zehlendorf, and Lichterfelde were affected by the outage for a period of around 4.5 days. The...
Cop30 – German Climate Pavilion
COP30 in Belém is in full swing. On 19 November (19:00–21:00, Belém local time; Germany -4 hours), the "Science for Action Evening" will take place. Under the title “International cooperation in climate change research: building data, trust, and momentum for change”,...