1910 European Floods

Summary

The 1910 European Floods were a series of floods that struck Central Europe in mid-June 1910. The flooding was the result of several days of heavy rains, and resulted in severe flooding to the Ahr River in Germany, which killed up to 200 people in the Ahr Valley. The town of Schuld was particularly hard hit where at least 50 people were reported to have been killed after a bridge gave way during the flooding. Reports from the time also claimed that almost every bridge in the valley was destroyed by the flooding.[1]

1910 European floods
Postcard of the flooding in Lucerne on June 14, 1910
DateMid-June 1910
LocationAustria
Belgium
Germany
Hungary
Serbia
Switzerland
Deaths1200+
  • ~200 in Germany
  • ~1000 in Hungary
  • 26 in Switzerland
  • 35 in Serbia

The rains also resulted in flooding in Switzerland, where at least 26 people were reported to have been killed around Lake Lucerne. Flooding was reported in Lucerne and Zürich where the city electric lighting systems were compromised.[2] The worst human loss however was reported in Hungary where over 1000 people were reported killed which was reported as "exceeding all records".[3] Elsewhere severe flooding also occurred in Austria, Belgium, and Serbia.[4] Serbia in particular saw severe flooding on the Great Morava river which resulted in severe damage to cities such as Jagodina as well as an additional 35 fatalities.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "200 LIVES LOST IN AHR VALLEY". Kingston Daily Freeman. Cologne, Germany. 14 June 1910. p. 1. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  2. ^ "GREAT FLOOD DISASTERS -- SWISS TOWNS INUNDADTED. -- DAMAGE IN HUNGARY. -- ONE THOUSAND LIVES LOST. -- A SCHOOL SWEPT AWAY". The Mercury. London, United Kingdom. 20 June 1910. p. 1. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Thousand Lives Lost in Hungarian Floods". Los Angeles Times. Vienna, Austria. 19 June 1910. p. 3. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  4. ^ "HAVOC BY FLOODS IN CENTRAL EUROPE; Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, and Servia Suffer Severely. VILLAGES WASHED AWAY Communications Cut -- More Loss of Life -- Worse Floods Expected Owing to Melting of Snow". New York Times. Berlin, Germany. 16 June 1910. p. 5. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  5. ^ "MANY LIVES LOST IN RIVER FLOOD -- Moravia River Has Carried Devastation to the People of the Valley" (PDF). The Evening Times. Belgrade, Serbia. 15 June 1910. p. 1. Retrieved 19 July 2021.