1953 disaster

The 1953 disaster refers to the North Sea flood that occurred on January 31, 1953, when a severe storm combined with high tides caused breaches in dikes along the coast of the Netherlands, Belgium, England, and other countries. This led to massive flooding, drowning over 2,500 people and displacing hundreds of thousands. The disaster exposed weaknesses in flood defenses, prompting major improvements in flood management, including the construction of the Delta Works in the Netherlands. It highlighted the importance of robust engineering and planning to protect coastal areas from storm surges and rising sea levels.