El riesgo de inundacionesy la vulnerabilidad en áreas urbanas. Análisis de casos en España

Abstract

Torrential rains-floods hazard is the most damaging in Spain considering historic consequences. There are some supporting examples; i.e. the tragedy in Biescas (Huesca) in 1996 or the one in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2002.There are contingency plans derived from the emergency system of Protección Civil (Civil Defence), but this support does not avoid the high vulnerability of urban and tourist localities. This article analyzes, through specific examples, why this hazard continuously causes accidents/damages with substantial losses in humans and goods specially in urban localities where sometimes, some elements contribute to reinforce to the negative consequences of floods.