Water-related disasters in Brazil: an assessment from 1991 to 2024

Abstract

Over the past few decades, socio-natural disasters have become an increasingly prominent theme in the daily lives of individuals in both developed and developing countries. This study aims to provide a general overview of nearly 60 000 records of water-related disasters (WRDs — i.e. floods, storms, landslides, and droughts) that occurred in Brazil from 1991 to 2024. The impacts are presented according to the country’s geographic regions. The number of registered WRDs has significantly increased over the analyzed period, driven by improved recording tools, particularly after the launch of the S2ID platform in 2013. It is important to highlight that although all data used are publicly available, there are still some limitations in data collection, particularly regarding the lack of a multi-hazard approach for managing complex extreme events. Official records are often unable to capture concurrent events, which means only one type of disaster is recorded during such incidents. The findings of this work enable the construction of a comprehensive overview of both the occurrences and recurrences of these disasters throughout the country and its geographic regions, while also supporting effective planning in risk management and disaster reduction.