"Worldwide, humans now occupy more than twice as much land in flood-prone areas as they did four decades ago, according to a new study in the journal Nature. The findings highlight the degree to which rapid development along coasts and in floodplains has increased the need for disaster preparedness around the globe.
China and Vietnam together account for more than half of the planet’s recent expansion of cities, towns and villages into areas with major flood hazards, the study found. Other fast-urbanizing middle-income countries, including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Thailand, built out large areas of high-risk land as well.
In rich nations like the United States, by contrast, homes and businesses have been built more quickly in safer places over the past few decades. Plenty of development in vulnerable areas of these countries took place earlier, though. In New York City, for instance, streets were turned into raging rivers last week after record downpours overwhelmed drains and sewers."
Raymond Zhong reports for the New York Times October 4, 2023.
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