2011 cloudburst in Denmark
{{Short description|Cloudburst on 2 July 2011 in parts of Zealand and the Greater Copenhagen area}}
{{Expand Danish|fa=yes|date=May 2021|topic=hist}}
{{Infobox event|Image_Caption=Istedgade street in central Copenhagen during the cloudburst|image=Istedgade skybrud 2011-07-02.jpg|date={{Start date and age|2011|07|02|df=y}}|Location=Denmark}}
On 2 July 2011, a cloudburst hit parts of Zealand and the Greater Copenhagen area of Denmark. This resulted in the greatest recorded rainfall in 24 hours in the past 55 years. It caused an estimated DKK 6 billion in damage, notably including structural failures at the 17th-century fortress, Kastellet.
Cloudburst
The Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) forecast a cloudburst on 2 July 2011 but did not expect the strength of the cloudburst that formed.{{Cite web|last=Andersen|first=Mai Maskell|date=8 July 2011|title=Forventet skybrud men uventet styrke|trans-title=Expected cloudburst but unexpected strength|url=http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/index/nyheder/nyheder-2011/forventet_skybrud_men_uventet_styrke.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906050420/http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/index/nyheder/nyheder-2011/forventet_skybrud_men_uventet_styrke.htm|archive-date=6 September 2012|access-date=22 May 2021|website=Danish Meteorological Institute|language=da}} Rainfall in the Greater Copenhagen area was measured at {{cvt|135.4|mm|in}} on 2 July. This was the greatest recorded rainfall in 24 hours in the past 55 years. The previous record was {{cvt|111.7|mm|in}} measured in Ordrup, a suburb in the north of Copenhagen, on 1 August 1959.{{Cite news|date=8 July 2011|title=Skybrud var det værste målt i København|language=da|trans-title=Cloudburst was the worst measured in Copenhagen|work=Danish Broadcasting Corporation|url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/skybrud-var-det-vaerste-maalt-i-koebenhavn|url-status=live|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313161053/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/skybrud-var-det-vaerste-maalt-i-koebenhavn|archive-date=13 March 2021}}
The cloudburst started in Hellerup at {{Circa}} 19:00 and traveled in a south-westerly trajectory for approximately two hours, before dissipating north of Køge.{{Cite web|title=Redegørelse vedrørende skybruddet i Storkøbenhavn lørdag den 2. juli 2011|trans-title=Statement regarding the cloudburst in Greater Copenhagen on Saturday 2 July 2011|url=http://brs.dk/beredskab/Documents/Redeg%C3%B8relse%20om%20skybruddet%20i%20Stork%C3%B8benhavn%202.%20juli%202011.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304194113/http://brs.dk/beredskab/Documents/Redeg%C3%B8relse%20om%20skybruddet%20i%20Stork%C3%B8benhavn%202.%20juli%202011.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|access-date=22 May 2021|website=Danish Emergency Management Agency}}
In Zealand, more than 5,000 lightning strikes were recorded in three hours.{{Cite news|last=Dreehsen|first=Louise Lyck|date=2 July 2011|title=Skybrud, hagl og over 5000 lyn rammer København|language=da|trans-title=Cloudbursts, hail and over 5000 lightning strikes Copenhagen|work=Berlingske|url=https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/skybrud-hagl-og-over-5000-lyn-rammer-koebenhavn|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=22 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522122041/https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/skybrud-hagl-og-over-5000-lyn-rammer-koebenhavn|url-status=live}}
Jørn Thomsen, a meteorologist for the DMI, described the cloudburst as the strongest ever measured in Copenhagen.{{Cite news|last=Jellestad|first=Lars|date=4 July 2011|title=Skybruddet er det værste nogensinde|language=da|trans-title=The cloudburst is the worst ever|work=B.T.|url=https://www.bt.dk/danmark/skybruddet-er-det-vaerste-nogensinde|url-status=live|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022042820/https://www.bt.dk/danmark/skybruddet-er-det-vaerste-nogensinde|archive-date=22 October 2020}}
Consequences
= Health =
The trauma center at Rigshospitalet had to be moved to Herlev Hospital after mud and water penetrated the facility and damaged equipment. At Hvidovre Hospital patients in the emergency department were sent home and management discussed whether to evacuate the entire hospital, including 450 bed-bound patients.{{Cite news|date=20 September 2012|title=Hospitaler var centimeter fra katastrofe|language=da|trans-title=Hospitals were centimetres from catastrophe|work=B.T.|url=https://www.bt.dk/danmark/hospitaler-var-centimeter-fra-katastrofe|url-status=live|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814211246/https://www.bt.dk/danmark/hospitaler-var-centimeter-fra-katastrofe|archive-date=14 August 2020}}
A 2012 study of 257 workers who participated in the clean-up of the flood found that 22 per cent (56) became ill afterward.{{Cite journal|last1=Wojcik|first1=Oktawia. P.|last2=Holt|first2=J.|last3=Kjerulf|first3=A.|last4=Müller|first4=L.|last5=Ethelberg|first5=S.|last6=Mølbak|first6=K.|date=19 September 2012|title=Personal protective equipment, hygiene behaviours and occupational risk of illness after July 2011 flood in Copenhagen, Denmark|journal=Epidemiology & Infection|publisher=Cambridge University Press|volume=141|issue=8|pages=1756–1763|doi=10.1017/S0950268812002038|pmid=22989427|pmc=9151619 |s2cid=28349439}}
A 62-year-old man died on 19 July after contracting the rare disease leptospirosis. Danish medical research institute Statens Serum Institut stated that the infection probably occurred through contact with sewage water whilst cleaning a flooded basement after the cloudburst. Another case of leptospirosis was identified.{{Cite news|last=Birch|first=Therese Rokkjær|date=21 July 2011|title=62-årig er død af farlig rottesygdom|language=da|trans-title=62-year-old has died of dangerous rat disease|work=Danish Broadcasting Corporation|url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/62-aarig-er-doed-af-farlig-rottesygdom|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=22 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522111725/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/62-aarig-er-doed-af-farlig-rottesygdom|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=21 July 2011|title=Død af rottesygdom efter skybrud|language=da|trans-title=Death from rat disease after cloudburst|work=TV 2|url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/article.php/id-41921875%3Ad%C3%83%C6%92%C3%82%C2%B8d-af-rottesygdom-efter-skybrud.html|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=22 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522141808/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/article.php/id-41921875:d%C3%83%C6%92%C3%82%C2%B8d-af-rottesygdom-efter-skybrud.html|url-status=live}}
The World Health Organization's European headquarters were closed after parts of the offices were flooded.{{Cite news|date=4 July 2011|title=WHO/Europe headquarters in Copenhagen closed due to flooding|work=World Health Organization|url=https://www.euro.who.int/en/home/sections/news/2011/07/whoeurope-headquarters-in-copenhagen-closed-due-to-flooding|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=22 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522180354/https://www.euro.who.int/en/home/sections/news/2011/07/whoeurope-headquarters-in-copenhagen-closed-due-to-flooding|url-status=live}}
= Economy =
The City of Copenhagen Parks and Nature Department estimated that the cloudburst caused DKK 6 billion ($1.04 billion) worth of damage.{{Cite news|last=Gerdes|first=Justin|date=31 October 2012|title=What Copenhagen Can Teach Cities About Adapting To Climate Change|work=Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/justingerdes/2012/10/31/what-copenhagen-can-teach-cities-about-adapting-to-climate-change/?sh=5d3ef2231e89|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=22 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522112605/https://www.forbes.com/sites/justingerdes/2012/10/31/what-copenhagen-can-teach-cities-about-adapting-to-climate-change/?sh=5d3ef2231e89|url-status=live}}
The incident resulted in 90,644 insurance claims, with the value of the claims totaling DKK 4.88 billion.{{Cite news|date=18 April 2012|title=Skybrud kostede 4,88 mia. kr.|language=da|trans-title=Cloudburst cost 4.88 billion krone|work=TV 2|url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/article.php/id-49754398.html%2013/tv2/tv2/id-49754398.html|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526105904/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/article.php/id-49754398.html%2013/tv2/tv2/id-49754398.html%2013|url-status=live}}
= Buildings and structures =
The historic fortress Kastellet was badly damaged by floods following the cloudburst. In several places, the ramparts collapsed and several floors were destroyed.{{Cite news|date=3 July 2011|title=Kastellet er blevet slemt beskadiget af oversvømmelser|trans-title=Kastellet has been badly damaged by floods|work=Danish Broadcasting Corporation|url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/kastellet-er-blevet-slemt-beskadiget-af-oversvoemmelser|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=22 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522213953/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/kastellet-er-blevet-slemt-beskadiget-af-oversvoemmelser|url-status=live}}
= Transport =
The Helsingør motorway was blocked in both directions from {{Lang|da|Kildegårdsvej}} to {{Lang|da|Hans Knudsens Plads}} on 2 July. The Danish Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) pumped the water overnight on 3 July and the road was reopened on the morning of 4 July.{{Cite news|last1=Hvass|first1=Anders|last2=Johansen|first2=Mathias Ørsborg|date=4 July 2011|title=Sådan er trafikken ramt af skybruddet|language=da|trans-title=This is how the traffic is affected by the cloudburst|work=Berlingske|url=https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/saadan-er-trafikken-ramt-af-skybruddet|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=22 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522164902/https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/saadan-er-trafikken-ramt-af-skybruddet|url-status=live}}
Despite its location in underground tunnels, the Copenhagen Metro did not experience any operational problems, except that the elevators stopped working.
Reforms
In May 2012, Copenhagen joined the United Nations Making Cities Resilient campaign.{{Cite news|date=24 May 2012|title=Copenhagen joins UNISDR campaign after '1,000-year' flood|work=United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction|url=https://www.undrr.org/news/copenhagen-joins-unisdr-campaign-after-1000-year-flood|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=22 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522212217/https://www.undrr.org/news/copenhagen-joins-unisdr-campaign-after-1000-year-flood|url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Sister project links|auto=yes}}
- [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-14007888 Footage of the floods] from BBC News
Category:Weather events in Denmark
Category:Natural disasters in Denmark
Category:2010s floods in Europe