Chronicle of a forecast flood: exposure and vulnerability on the south-east coast of Spain

The study examines the responsibility of human factors, such as urban development, in the occurrence of torrential rainfall disasters in the region of Murcia. It assesses exposure and vulnerability through rainfall observations and municipal statistics. In recent years, floods have become one of the natural hazards that generate the greatest economic and human losses on the planet. As is well known, torrential rainfall events are the triggering factor for flooding processes; nevertheless, it is worth examining the responsibility of the human factor, such as urban development, in the occurrence of these potential disasters.

To this end, rainfall observations obtained during different precipitation events have been analysed. The evolution and urban development from the growth of the number of buildings was also examined. It can be concluded by indicating the clear influence of territorial transformation on the increase of exposure and economic losses generated by flood events.