Study finds more people are moving into high flood zones, increasing risk of water disasters

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Far more people are in harm's way as they move into high flood zones across the globe, adding to an increase in watery disasters from climate change, a new study said. “People are on a search for better lives and better jobs and then sort of get stuck in bad lands because that’s what they can afford,” said study co-author Stephane Hallegatte, a World Bank senior climate adviser and expert on disaster economics. “What you would expect is that initially you settle in a safe space, but as the city expands, it’s more likely to grow into areas that it previously avoided, flood zones for instance.” Then comes the issue of is it cheaper to fortify these dangerous areas or better to move people out, the study authors said. “Especially the data on differentiating the countries by income levels is of importance and provides interesting socioeconomic insights.” Populations growing into flood zones doesn’t mean that climate change isn’t a major problem, the study authors said.