IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/waterr/v39y2025i12d10.1007_s11269-025-04259-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Statistical Analysis of Global Dam Accidents in the 21st Century: A Focus on Common Features and Causes

Author

Listed:
  • Reem Nasser

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Dimitris Tzioutzios

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Yiliu Liu

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

Effective water resource management often involves constructing dams to provide numerous benefits, yet mismanagement of these structures can lead to serious consequences, including fatalities, infrastructure damage, and environmental harm. As climate change intensifies, the risk of dam failure is expected to rise. This study provides a comprehensive global analysis of dam failures in the 21st century, examining the characteristics, causes, and impacts of these incidents. A detailed dataset of 53 operational dam failures was compiled, categorizing each case based on parameters such as seasonality, dam age, height, capacity, and primary and secondary causes of failure. The findings of the analysis reveal that most failures occurred in intermediate, non-aging dams, with human-related factors representing the predominant causes. Statistical analysis of cases worldwide highlights poor management, design and construction flaws, and meteorological factors—largely influenced by climate change—as the leading contributors to dam failures. By presenting these findings, this study aims to inform policymakers and stakeholders of the critical need for proactive risk mitigation, guiding them in prioritizing actions to reduce dam-related risks. The results also highlight the need to revise safety standards and implement targeted measures to reduce the risk of dam failures effectively. Graphical Abstract

Suggested Citation

  • Reem Nasser & Dimitris Tzioutzios & Yiliu Liu, 2025. "Statistical Analysis of Global Dam Accidents in the 21st Century: A Focus on Common Features and Causes," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 39(12), pages 6493-6516, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:waterr:v:39:y:2025:i:12:d:10.1007_s11269-025-04259-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11269-025-04259-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11269-025-04259-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11269-025-04259-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:waterr:v:39:y:2025:i:12:d:10.1007_s11269-025-04259-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.