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Reconstruction of a flash flood event through a multi-hazard approach: focus on the Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda

Author

Listed:
  • Liesbet Jacobs

    (Vrije Universiteit Brussel
    Royal Museum for Central Africa)

  • Jan Maes

    (Vrije Universiteit Brussel
    KU Leuven)

  • Kewan Mertens

    (KU Leuven)

  • John Sekajugo

    (Busitema University)

  • Wim Thiery

    (ETH Zürich)

  • Nicole van Lipzig

    (KU Leuven)

  • Jean Poesen

    (KU Leuven)

  • Matthieu Kervyn

    (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

  • Olivier Dewitte

    (Royal Museum for Central Africa)

Abstract

The increased use of complex and holistic modelling for multi-hazard analysis is in sharp contrast with a lacuna in hazard analysis in equatorial Africa. This study aims to increase understanding of multi-hazard events in poorly documented regions with low accessibility. We focus on the Nyamwamba catchment (107 km2) located in the Rwenzori Mountains (Uganda) where on May 1, 2013, a severe flash flood occurred. In this region, wildfires, earthquakes and landslides occur as well. Here we reconstruct the circumstances under which this flash flood event was triggered, characterize the different processes acting upon the catchment dynamics and estimate the damaging effects of the flash flood within the catchment. The combined occurrence of intense rainfall, a forest fire having burned 18 % of the catchment area and the occurrence of 29 landslides providing debris to the river system, induced a debris-rich and very destructive flash flood which caused several fatalities, the destruction of 70 buildings, several bridges, a hospital, a school, a tarmac road and several lifelines. Although the methodologies applied to estimate peak discharge, detect landslides and delineate wildfires are well established in their disciplines and sometimes limited in their precision, their combination is required to demonstrate the importance of the wildfire and landslides for the magnitude of this flood, unprecedented in decades but characterized by a low return period of the triggering rainfall event. This indicates that flash floods should not be considered as self-determined phenomena but as a result of several cascading and interacting hazard processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Liesbet Jacobs & Jan Maes & Kewan Mertens & John Sekajugo & Wim Thiery & Nicole van Lipzig & Jean Poesen & Matthieu Kervyn & Olivier Dewitte, 2016. "Reconstruction of a flash flood event through a multi-hazard approach: focus on the Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 84(2), pages 851-876, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:84:y:2016:i:2:d:10.1007_s11069-016-2458-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-016-2458-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Melanie Kappes & Margreth Keiler & Kirsten Elverfeldt & Thomas Glade, 2012. "Challenges of analyzing multi-hazard risk: a review," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 64(2), pages 1925-1958, November.
    2. B. Mazzorana & F. Comiti & S. Fuchs, 2013. "A structured approach to enhance flood hazard assessment in mountain streams," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 67(3), pages 991-1009, July.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jonas Ardö, 2021. "A Sentinel-2 Dataset for Uganda," Data, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Mertens, Kewan & Jacobs, Liesbet & Maes, Jan & Poesen, Jean & Kervyn, Matthieu & Vranken, Liesbet, 2017. "Disaster risk reduction among households exposed to landslide hazard: a crucial role for coping appraisal?," Working Papers 265433, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Centre for Agricultural and Food Economics.
    3. Mertens, K. & Jacobs, L. & Maes, J. & Poesen, J. & Kervyn, M. & Vranken, L., 2018. "Disaster risk reduction among households exposed to landslide hazard: A crucial role for self-efficacy?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 77-91.
    4. Martin Kabenge & Joshua Elaru & Hongtao Wang & Fengting Li, 2017. "Characterizing flood hazard risk in data-scarce areas, using a remote sensing and GIS-based flood hazard index," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 89(3), pages 1369-1387, December.

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