In October 2024, devastating floods swept through Spain’s Valencia region, leaving 229 people dead and countless others traumatised. Among the victims were Miguel and Sara, a father and daughter who perished together while trying to save their car from rising waters. For their widow and mother, Toñi García, the pain remains raw – just one example of the human cost behind the natural disaster known as the Dana. One year later, Valencia continues to rebuild both its cities and its spirit. Memorials honour those lost, while reconstruction and new safety protocols aim to prevent a recurrence. Yet grief and trauma linger, especially among children who now fear the rain which once brought destruction, and anger at the handling of the Dana on the day it struck refuses to fade. As towns like Paiporta rise from the ruins, residents are striving for resilience and renewal.

One of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, Hurricane Melissa has left a trail of devastation across Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba, killing at least 33 and displacing hundreds of thousands. Striking Jamaica as a Category 5 storm with winds of up to 185 mph, it tore roofs from homes, flooded entire communities, and crippled power and communication lines across the region. In Haiti, where fragile infrastructure magnified the disaster, scores are dead or missing after floodwaters swallowed coastal towns. Cuba also faces collapsed buildings and blocked roads, with hundreds of thousands forced into shelters. In Jamaica, 77% of the island lost power: emergency services were inundated by floods and unable to conduct emergency operations. Two airports have reopened, with the UN and other agencies ready to deliver aid. Amid the chaos, local leaders and residents describe scenes of heartbreak and resilience - families salvaging what little remains, emergency workers battling through mud and wreckage, and governments scrambling to restore hope. Recovery will be long, painful, and costly.

At least 64 people have died and 65 remain missing after torrential rains and floods devastated five Mexican states. The deluge, triggered by remnants of Hurricane Priscilla and Tropical Rainstorm Raymond, caused rivers to burst their banks and unleashed deadly landslides which wiped out entire communities. President Claudia Sheinbaum said that around 100,000 homes were damaged, and some had ‘practically disappeared’. She added that there had not been any meteorological signs ‘which could have indicated that the rain was going to be of this magnitude’. Thousands of soldiers and emergency responders have been deployed to deliver food, water, and medical aid, while power crews are working to restore electricity to hundreds of thousands affected. Officials said the rainfall, exceeding 280mm in some areas, was impossible to predict at such magnitude. As survivors search for missing loved ones, grief and exhaustion hang over devastated regions.

On 24 September Typhoon Ragasa, the strongest tropical cyclone globally this year, slammed into Yangjiang, southern China, after killing 17 people in Taiwan and battering Hong Kong with destructive winds and torrential rain. The storm, which reached Category 5 strength with winds over 260 kph before weakening, inundated Hong Kong’s coastal areas, submerging roads and buildings. China’s authorities ordered the evacuation of over two million residents across Guangdong province, and dispatched tens of thousands of tents, folding beds, lighting equipment and other rescue supplies. While Hong Kong kept its stock market open as a sign of infrastructure resilience, authorities warned of continued flooding risks. Experts link Ragasa’s ferocity to climate change and predict stronger typhoons ahead, highlighting the need for urgent climate action and preparedness across vulnerable coastal regions as global temperatures and sea levels rise.

Syria is facing its worst drought in 36 years, devastating wheat production and deepening a nationwide hunger crisis. Farmer Maher Haddad has harvested barely a third of his normal yield, reflecting a 40% drop in wheat output across the country. The FAO estimates a shortfall of 2.73 million tonnes this year - enough to feed 16 million people - while rainfall has plunged 70%, crippling three-quarters of rain-fed farmland. Nearly 90% of Syrians already live in poverty; over 14 million are food insecure, and 9.1 million suffer acute hunger. Bread prices have skyrocketed, forcing families to borrow for daily food. Aid groups like the World Food Programme are providing emergency subsidies and direct payments to farmers, but long-term solutions such as new irrigation systems are hampered by years of war, soaring fuel costs, and economic collapse. Without sustained international support and adequate rainfall, Syria’s food crisis could escalate dramatically into 2026, threatening rural livelihoods and driving further displacement.

Catastrophic flooding has displaced nearly half a million people in Pakistan’s Punjab province after days of torrential monsoon rain swelled three major rivers. More than 2,300 villages have been inundated, affecting over 1.5 million residents, including parts of Lahore. In what authorities describe as the largest rescue effort in Punjab’s history, 481,000 people and 405,000 livestock have been evacuated using more than 800 boats and 1,300 rescue personnel. Over five hundred relief camps have been established to provide shelter and care for displaced families. The floods have killed at least thirty people, adding to the hundreds of lives lost during this year’s unusually heavy monsoon season. But with the rains continuing, authorities have warned that the crisis is far from over.

The village of Bishnoi in northern Pakistan has been devastated by a sudden flash flood, leaving entire homes buried beneath rocks and debris. On 15 August, torrential rains triggered a surge of water that swept through the village, destroying nearly every house. Locals described the scene as catastrophic, with families trapped under stones and crops flattened across the valley. Rescue operations continue with limited equipment, as survivors search desperately for missing loved ones. The area has suffered over 300 deaths, making it the hardest-hit region in Pakistan’s monsoon season, which has claimed more than 500 lives nationwide; there have also been many deaths in India and Nepal. Climate experts warn that melting glaciers, accelerated by global warming, are worsening the impact of heavy rains and landslides. Amid tragedy, there were moments of heroism, such as a school principal in the Swat valley who ordered the evacuation of 900 children only minutes before floods destroyed the building. In Bishnoi, families mourn as relief and recovery efforts continue.

Fast-moving wildfires have reached the outskirts of Patras, Greece’s third-largest city, forcing mass evacuations, including a children’s hospital, and destroying thousands of hectares in the surrounding region. Entire villages have been emptied, homes and businesses lost, and hundreds of vehicles incinerated. Strong winds and soaring temperatures, reaching 38°C, have worsened the crisis, while smoke has caused respiratory problems for many residents. Across Greece, over 4,800 firefighters are battling more than 20 blazes, with EU water bombers requested for support. The crisis is part of a broader southern Europe heatwave, with deadly fires in Spain, large outbreaks in Portugal, Albania, and Italy, and record-high temperatures threatening lives and infrastructure. Meteorologists say such extremes are becoming more frequent and intense due to human-induced climate change. See also UK article ‘fourth heatwave’.

At least 30 people have died and over 80,000 have been evacuated following devastating rainstorms and floods in Beijing and surrounding regions. Chinese authorities confirmed the deaths, with 21 caused by drowning - many in underground spaces that filled rapidly - and others from electrocution and building collapses. The Miyun District northeast of Beijing recorded nearly 543mm of rain. The storms have severely impacted infrastructure, cutting power to 136 villages and damaging 31 roads, complicating rescue and relief efforts. President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang have urged “all-out efforts” to rescue the missing, resettle the displaced, and minimise further casualties. An orange alert - the second-highest emergency level - remains in effect as more rain is forecast. The deluge has affected several provinces including Hebei, Jilin, and Shandong. China’s National Development and Reform Commission has allocated £21 million in emergency funding to support relief operations. With fears of additional flooding and landslides, authorities are on high alert, monitoring rivers, reservoirs, and urban drainage systems to prevent further tragedy. Relief efforts continue as the region battles ongoing extreme weather.

A severe early-summer heatwave is scorching much of Europe, triggering wildfires, evacuations, and health alerts across multiple countries. In Turkey, over 50,000 people have been evacuated due to wildfires, especially near Izmir. France has faced peak temperatures of 40°C, with wildfires prompting evacuations. Spain is on track for its hottest June ever, with Seville reaching 42°C. Italy issued red heat alerts for 16 cities and may restrict working outdoors. Germany is also issuing warnings, urging water conservation while facing disrupted river shipping because the water level of the Rhine has dropped. UN secretary-general António Guterres has commented, ‘Extreme heat is no longer a rare event – it has become the new normal.’ Heatwaves are already the world’s deadliest weather hazard, killing nearly half a million people annually, surpassing the toll from floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes combined.