We’re joined by Dr Mary Bourke, a flood risk management expert and assistant professor of Geography at Trinity College Dublin. She delves into the reasons why flooding – just like strong winds or extreme temperatures – can never be fully stopped, but outlines the solutions Ireland could consider in order to mitigate against the worst impacts on people’s homes and livelihoods.

It is the first major storm to hit the island in four years.

At least 111 people were killed by the fires.

The blaze that swept into centuries-old Lahaina last week destroyed nearly every building in the town of 13,000.

Last week’s inferno on the island of Maui is already the deadliest US wildfire in a century.

An advisory said it was ‘beyond doubt’ that human influence has warmed the atmosphere.

Lahaina, a town of 12,000, has been reduced to ruins, its lively hotels and restaurants turned to ashes.

Governor Josh Green has said there will ‘without a doubt’ be more fatalities.

Tropical Storm Khanun is expected to make landfall in South Korea on Thursday morning.

The Iberian peninsula is in the middle of a third heatwave this summer.

Officials reported the deaths in Baoding, about 150 kilometres from Beijing, adding that 18 people were missing.

41 people were killed and another nine are still missing nationwide after the heavy downpours.

Globally, the beginning of July was already the hottest week of modern records.

Eight children were among the 12 people confirmed dead yesterday.

Meteorologists issued a rare “code red” warning for millions of people in the Netherlands to stay indoors.

Preliminary readings by US meteorologists today show that average daily air temperature on the Earth’s surface reached 17.18 degrees Celsius.

The United Nations warned that more extreme temperatures are to come.

Beijing reported 9.8 straight days when the temperature exceeded 35 degrees Celsius.

Authorities have declared an emergency in the affected districts.

Three years of scant rainfall and high temperatures put the country into long-term drought.

Experts said the extreme weather had put stress on the ecology of Menindee, New South Wales.

The record rainfall in a beachside city caused flooding and mudslides, killing at least 46 people.

“This is becoming increasingly urgent as Europe experiences more extreme temperature fluctuations caused by climate change,” one researcher said.

As temperatures plummeted, commuters and some residents fleeing their freezing homes became trapped on highways.

Heavy snow, howling winds and biting cold air took hold of much of the nation, including normally temperate southern states.

More than 50 people died in similar circumstances last week.

People in Florida are being urged to stock up on food, water, medicine and fuel and sandbags are being distributed.

A man was found dead in his car in Japan early today.

The storms hit on Thursday evening, with more than 400 millimetres of rain falling in some places in just a few hours.

Firefighters went street by street to make sure no residents were trapped.

Six others are missing after the heavy rain hit South Korea’s capital.

Fears are growing in Europe that extreme drought driven by climate change in the continent’s breadbasket nations will dent stable crop yields.

However, the national forecaster has warned that the risk of fires remains high in many areas.

At least 10 people have been killed this week.

As much as eight inches of rain is forecast for Australia’s largest city.