Even in river valleys, the cabling tends to be well insulated and underground here. Again, unless it’s especially rural.

I’ve seen places where basements / cellars have been completely submerged by freak floods and all the old electrical infrastructure (cables, meters, etc.) is still in place and back in use once everything has dried out, save perhaps for a few minor repairs.

But I get it. Where it’s cheaper and the health and safety / OSHA / whatever it’s called where you are, rules don’t disallow it, overground is going to happen.