In conversation with RTL, director Marc Hans said improved coordination, river projects, and responsive soils helped limit damage from Tuesday's floods, but warned that climate change will bring more frequent downpours and the country must keep strengthening its resilience.

Heavy rainfall led to intense local downpours in Luxembourg this week, but the country avoided major flooding thanks to a combination of weather conditions, responsive soil, and lessons learned since the devastating 2021 floods, according to the director of the Water Management Authority.

In an RTL interview, Marc Hans explained that the showers had not fallen everywhere at once, but in staggered bursts across different regions. This, combined with soils that were damp but still able to absorb significant amounts of water, meant much of the rain drained away quickly.

Learning from experience

He also pointed out that since the 2021 flood disaster, coordination between services had improved, with communes introducing new protection plans and residents themselves investing in technical measures to safeguard their homes. Projects such as river renaturation and local defences were described as "pieces of the puzzle" in strengthening resilience, along with more proactive information campaigns for the public.

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On Monday evening, water levels on the Alzette rose to critical levels, prompting a red warning, but by Tuesday afternoon gauges had stabilised or even receded. Hans confirmed that alert levels would gradually be lifted.

Efffects of climate change

Meteorologist Jörg Kachelmann told RTL Radio that climate change is making such phenomena more frequent, an assessment Hans echoed. He noted that Luxembourg faced three high-water situations last year alone, calling this an unusually high number.

Extreme downpours in short bursts are becoming increasingly common, he said, and the country needs to continue improving its preparedness. Planned measures include retention basins and a broader long-term strategy, though Hans cautioned that even such infrastructure has limits: "If rainfall is extreme, even a basin will eventually overflow. In the end, it’s always about assembling many different pieces to manage the risks."