In September 2024, there were shocking scenes in Esbjerg Municipality: Homeowners had basements full of water. Citizens tried in vain to pump enormous volumes of water away from the streets using water vacuum cleaners. Roads and bridges were cut.
An unusual situation, most would probably think. However, new research from DTU shows that the risk of flooding in Denmark will only increase in the future. Especially in coastal towns like Esbjerg.
"Put simply, the problem is that we have water on all sides," says Bodil Ankjær Nielsen, who is responsible for flood protection and climate adaptation in Esbjerg Municipality.
She is referring primarily to the coastal side, where, according to DMI, the water level has risen 2 mm yearly since 1900. During strong winds, the sea is pushed onshore, and a storm surge occurs, flooding towns and cities. The Danish Coastal Authority has identified Esbjerg Municipality as one of 14 places in Denmark where the risk of this scenario is particularly high.
Massive rainfall, which caused the floods in September, is also a threat. Esbjerg has a low elevation and is close to the Wadden Sea. During heavy rain, water from the large water systems of Ribe Å and Kongeå moves downwards towards the Wadden Sea—and the municipality, which cannot drain fast enough.
"Due to the combined threat, we need to take action. We have to be as robust as possible in relation to the future we face," says Bodil Ankjær Nielsen.
