The paper deals with a topic that is current and of great importance to society. It reveals and illustrates the complexity of coupled human-hydrological-ecological systems and identifies starting points for improved management of droughts and associated risks.

The paper presents a methodology for spatial identification of regions exposed to multi-hazards at pan European level, thus offering a significant contribution to the knowledge gap of decision makers and stakeholders which are still lacking a place-specific information of the proneness of their region to multi-hazard events as opposed to single hazard events.

The 2020 update of the European Seismic Hazard Model (ESHM20) is the most recent and up-to-date assessment of seismic hazard for the Euro-Mediterranean region.

The paper explains the factors which made the Ahr flood event of 2021 the deadliest one in Germany, causing more fatalities than all flood events of the previous 40 years together. It points out that 75% of the fatalities occurred outside of the established flood hazard zones. On the basis of individual fatality reports, factors additionally to early warning and evacuation deficits are identified. A particular result is that beyond danger zones like campsites and cellars the percentage of deaths on the ground floor of buildings (37 %) or outside on the street (18 %) were particularly high. Recommendations for improving emergency management of such unprecedented floods are given.

This paper fills a knowledge gap concerning the mental health implications following devastating flood disasters. The authors use a household-level survey to investigate risk and protective factors of post-traumatic stress disorder experienced in conjunction with the major event in the Ahr Valley, Germany, in July 2021.

The manuscript offers significant contributions that justify its consideration as a highlight paper: It presents a novel, multifaceted methodology for identifying and compiling single hazard types and multi-hazard interrelationships in data-scarce urban settings, which is applied in the context of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The research provides a comprehensive database of 21 single hazard types and 83 multi-hazard interrelationships, contributing critical insights for disaster risk reduction (DRR) in “Global South” urban areas, with an emphasis on inclusive, people-centred approaches. By integrating stakeholder perspectives and multi-hazard scenario generation, the paper advances the development of dynamic risk scenarios, strengthening multi-hazard approaches for disaster preparedness and response.

The paper offers an interesting case study about Switzerland's earthquake risk. It may be of interest for nation-wide studies and public management of earthquake threats.

The results I find particularly relevant are: 1. While individual crops have specific drought risks, an assessment of the risks across them is a valuable approach. 2. A clear link to meteorological drought in a particular seasonal period can be identified

The paper provides a detailed analysis of the causes and predictability of the May 2023 floods in Emiglia Romagna (Italy), which received considerable media coverage due to the extensive damage and loss of life associated.

Forest fires have become a major problem in many regions of the world, including parts of Central Europe. The modelling study addresses the different factors for Forest Fire Susceptibility (FFS), making use of high spatial resolution of input data for the state of Brandenburg, Germany. An increasing susceptibility is found under rising greenhouse gas forcing scenarios when other changes are not taken into account. Extreme weather periods are of particular relevance in this respect. However, the importance of anthropogenic and vegetation parameters for modelling FFS on a regional level can outweigh the pure climatic effects. The paper also suggests some recommendations for forest management and environmental planning for a reduction of fire risk.