LEDC Flood

Question 1

Location and date

Answer 1

Bangladesh 2004

Question 2

Why is Bangladesh susceptible to flooding? (Physical reasons)

Answer 2

Lays mainly on floodplains
Most land is 6 metres below sea level
3 main rivers
Monsoon every year
Snow from Himalayas melts every year
Cyclones in the Bay of Bengal

Question 3

What are the human reasons why the impacts are worse?

Answer 3

Poverty is common
Densely populated areas
Deforestation decreases interception

Question 4

What were the social impacts?

Answer 4

800 deaths with many more from disease

36 million homeless

Question 5

What were the environmental impacts?

Answer 5

38% of total land area flooded
River bank erosion
Soil erosion
Water conamination

Question 6

What were the economic impacts?

Answer 6

Serious damage to infrastructure
All flights cancelled in July
60% of the capital Dhaka was flooded
$2.2 billion damage

Question 7

What management strategies were put in place?

Answer 7

UN disaster support, provided financial and emergency supplies
Self help schemes promoted
Local community early warning systems implemented
Shelters built
Levees
Increase in monitoring
Encourage farmers to build homes on stilts