Box 6. Floods

Past Seven of the ten deadliest flood disasters in the twentieth century have occurred in China. More than 6 million people died from drowning, starvation and disease during the three biggest floods in 1931, 1939 and 1959.

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Future China is building its controversial Three Gorges Dam, to be completed in 2009, in part to reduce flood risk. Central America, Bangladesh, Taiwan and elsewhere remain at risk from heavy rains. Dams and other barriers, as well as re-naturalization of river courses, may help. Low-lying countries such as the Netherlands are accustomed to inundations such as that pictured above, but climate change may increase flood risk.