21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Drone/Aerial
Worst flooding

That’s not an island you’re looking at, but the devastation caused by flooding in Bangladesh in 2023. These floods made thousands homeless in a heartbeat. I was dedicated to documenting the terrible impacts of this flooding, traveling to the district of Kishoreganj and hiring a boat so he could photograph villages struck by the high waters. After hearing such terrible news, I went to Kishoreganj district…this time the flood took a terrible form. Flooding like this takes place when rains and meltwater exceed the capacity of rivers to cope. And a number of factors can make flooding worse – such as encroachment on rivers and the destruction of natural lands. But climate change can intensify downpours since a hotter atmosphere holds more moisture, so when it rains – it pours. And meltwater from glaciers can raise the waters even higher for countries like Bangladesh. On top of the threats of floods like these, Bangladesh is also at immense risk of flooding due to rising seas, since vast chunks of the country are only a couple of meters above sea level.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Kishoreganj, Bangladesh
Camera: L2D-20c
Copyright: © Azim Khan Ronnie