12 days, 12 storms – September starts catastrophically Selenskyj optimistic after meeting with Baerbock – the night update without photos

Heavy storms in Italy, Slovenia and Florida, two landslides in Switzerland, a dam burst in Norway – the summer of 2023 was riddled with natural disasters. This sad trend now appears to be continuing into September.

USA, Las Vegas (September 1)

In the gambling paradise of Las Vegas, almost 10 inches of rain (9.9 centimeters) falls in one day. What sounds like little, is almost as much as normal in a whole year (10.6 centimeters). The city’s infrastructure is overwhelmed and the streets are flooded. The death of a person is associated with the body of water.

Spain, Toledo (September 3)

It is raining in the center of Spain. On Sunday, September 3, 90 liters per square meter were measured in Toledo: a record. A young man drowns in an elevator that fills with water. Two more people die in the floods.

Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul (September 4)

In the state of Rio Grande do Sul, more than 30 people die when up to 300 millimeters of water falls from the sky within 24 hours. More than 85 percent of the town of Muçum (5,000 inhabitants) is under water. Residents report that the water level has risen by two meters per hour. Before and after photos show how the water level in some valleys has now risen to above 20 meters.

Greece, Zagora (September 5)

Storm Daniel hits Greece. In Zagora Pelion it rains 754 millimeters in 18 hours. The weather station then fails. 754 millimeters is more than has ever been recorded in Greece since records began, and more than London falls in an average year (585 millimeters). At least seven people die in the water.

Turkiye, Istanbul, Samsun (September 5)

Storm Daniel is also raging on the Turkish borders with Greece and Bulgaria. At least seven people die there in flash floods. Four people die when bungalows at a campsite are washed away. Here, up to 125 liters of rain fall per square meter in six hours. The storms also hit major cities such as Samsun on the Black Sea and Istanbul.

Bulgaria, Zarevo (September 5)

Daniel’s arm reaches all the way to Bulgaria. The popular holiday destination Zarevo on the Black Sea has been particularly hard hit. At least two people died here when they tried to cross a bridge in a car that collapsed at that moment. The vehicle then falls into the river and is washed into the sea.

China, Fuzhou (September 6)

Typhoon Haikui hits Fujian province. 300,000 people have to be evacuated and more than 2,500 houses have been damaged. The megacity Fuzhou is particularly affected. Two firefighters die there when their emergency vehicle is swept away by the floods.

Greece, Plain of Thessaly (September 6)

The plain of Thessaly in Greece is flooded. 70,000 hectares are under water. The capital Larisa in the middle of the basin is completely surrounded by water. The residents have to survive on the roofs of their homes for 24 hours without food or drinking water until they are rescued.

China, Hong Kong (September 8)

Within an hour, from 11 p.m. to midnight, a record 158 millimeters of rain fell, turning the narrow streets into torrents. Several metro stations are flooded. At least two people die.

Japan, Kamogawa and Fukushima (9 September)

In Chiba Prefecture, 391 millimeters of water was measured in 24 hours. The previous record was 272. Tropical Storm Yun-yeung is to blame. The cities of Kamogawa (355 millimeters) and Otaki (352 millimeters) also report record values. In Chiba, 2,000 houses have been damaged, but other prefectures have not been spared. In Fukushima, 1,204 houses are flooded, and in Ibaraki about 700. The masses of water have caused more than 200 landslides, at least three people have lost their lives in the floods and one person is still missing.

Libya (September 11, 2023)

In the deadliest storm so far this month, spring tides destroy parts of the Libyan city of Derna. Estimates assume a maximum of 25 percent of the city. Storm Daniel had also raged here before. Two nearby dams collapse under the weight of the water, taking houses and streets with them. Only estimates of the number of victims still exist. It is feared that several thousand people have not survived the destruction.

USA, New England, Massachusetts

And the next catastrophe is already looming. Hurricane Lee is heading towards the American east coast. More flooding is expected. Meanwhile, water is already knee deep in parts of Massachusetts after 9 inches of water fell overnight.