The Aquidabán River in Amambay Department, Paraguay, overflowed on February 16, 2023, leading to extensive flooding that has caused damage to roads and bridges, affected 700 indigenous families, and displaced many residents. The flooding has caused significant material damage, with many residents losing all their belongings, and has left multiple communities isolated due to the destruction of numerous bridges and roads.
Brazil’s southeastern coastal areas were hit with exceptionally heavy rainfall on February 18 and 19, 2023, causing floods and landslides that killed 40 people, injured 23 others, and displaced thousands more. The region experienced some of the country’s highest recorded rainfall totals for a 24-hour period, with Bertioga registering 694 mm (27.32 inches) and São Sebastião recording 649 mm (25.55 inches) during the same timeframe.
Severe flooding caused extensive damage to southern Malawi over that past couple of days, resulting in the deaths of at least four people and leaving three others missing, according to local authorities. The heavy rainfall on led to flooding in Blantyre and Chiradzulu District Councils, causing significant damage to roads, bridges, houses, and other properties.
South Africa has declared a National State of Disaster due to the widespread impact of floods in several provinces, which have caused the loss of lives, severe damage to infrastructure, and affected homes and businesses. The flooding was brought by heavy rain affecting the region since February 8.
Northern Syria is facing a dual humanitarian crisis after a series of devastating earthquakes in Turkey caused a dam breach along the Orontes river, resulting in widespread flooding and forcing thousands to evacuate their homes.
Heavy rainfall affecting southern Mozambique since February 8, 2023, has caused widespread flooding, particularly in the capital Maputo and the rest of Maputo Province. The National Institute for Disaster Management has reported six deaths and two injuries, as well as significant material damage to homes, health centers, schools, and agricultural land.
Thousands of buildings in New Zealand’s Auckland area are currently unsafe for living after the region was hit by extreme rainfall and severe flooding at the end of January. The amount of rain that fell in a matter of days made January 2023 Auckland’s wettest month in at least the last 170 years. The flooding has put the public’s focus on nature-based alternatives to traditional stormwater systems.
Indonesia has been hit by severe floods in recent days as heavy rainfall pounded the regions of Java and southwestern Borneo. According to the ASEAN Disaster Information Network (ADINet), floods have flooded thousands of homes.
Southern and Central Provinces of Zambia are grappling with a “catastrophic situation” after prolonged rainfall caused widespread flooding. The floods caused damage to homes and farmlands as well as disrupted access to healthcare and education in communities in Bwengwa, Namwala, Monze in Southern Province, and Mumbwa district in Central Province since mid-January 2023. The government has assured a multi-sectorial response to ensure recovery and rehabilitation.
Floods caused by heavy rainfall affecting parts of Sumatra island, Indonesia since January 21, 2023, have damaged more than 15 000 homes and left at least 3 people dead.
