Tο 31ο τεύχος του “Newsletter of Environmental, Disaster, and Crises Management Strategies”, που εκδίδεται από το Π.Μ.Σ. "Στρατηγικές Διαχείρισης Περιβάλλοντος, Καταστροφών και Κρίσεων" είναι το αποτέλεσμα της επιστημονικής αποστολής του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών στο ανατολικό τμήμα της Ιβηρικής χερσονήσου (Ισπανία), το οποίο επλήγη από ακραία καιρικά φαινόμενα και επακόλουθες καταστροφικές πλημμύρες στα τέλη Οκτωβρίου 2024.

The 31th Issue of the Newsletter of the Environmental, Disaster and Crises Management Strategies is the outcome of thescientific mission of the National and Kapodistrian Universityof Athens (Athens, Greece) in the eastern part of the Iberian peninsula (Spain), which was affected by extreme weather effects and subsequentdestructive floods

Dr. Efthymios Lekkas, Prof. Em. Of Dynamic Tectonic and Applied Geology and Disasters Management and Dr. Spyridon Mavroulis, Geologist, visited the affected area shortly after the completion of the flooding phenomena. The aim of the mission was the collection of field data and information in order to detect all the factors that contributed to the disaster, with emphasis on the geological, geomorphological, hydrological and hydrometeorological properties of the affected area. Furthermore, the mission aimed to the assessment of the extent and the type of the triggered damage to the natural and built environment and subsequently to the population of the Valencia wider area. Regarding human losses, this event could be characterized as one of the most fatal disasters in the recent history of Spain.

he Newsletter for the late October 2024 Valencia flood includes several sections in order to contribute to the understanding and the interpretation of the generated phenomena and their effects on several sectors and elements of the built environment. Through the presentation of the collected data, it also highlights the reasons of the recorded mortality and the adverse conditions formed during the evolution and after the completion of the extreme weather events and the subsequent flooding.
In this frame and context, the 31st Issue of the EDCMS Newsletter on the 2024 Valencia flood contains a wealth of information about:

• The presentation of the morphology, geology and the hydrology of the flood-affected area with emphasis on the main catchments of the area (Júcar and Turia Rivers and Rambla del Poyo ephemeral stream).
• The development and the evolution of residential areas, including major cities, shaped by the influence of the river.
• The rich inventory of historic and recent floods in the eastern part of the Iberian peninsula and especially in Valencia city and wider area comprising several properties such as their temporal distribution and frequency, the flood seasonality, the high flood-frequency periods and frequency peaks, and the main and usually observed and recorded types of flood-related damage.
• The most destructive and fatal floods in Valencia City on early November 1776 and the mid October 1957, with emphasis on the latter including information related to the prevailed atmospheric conditions and the recorded precipitation, the impact of the floods on the natural and built environments and the subsequent impact on population, as well as the emergency and recovery measures adopted and applied in those days.

Regarding the late October 2024 Valencia destructive floods, the 31st Issue of the EDCMS Newsletter comprises:

• the hydrometeorological properties and the evolution of the extreme weather events that affected the eastern part of the Iberian peninsula on late October 2024.
• the related forecast and warnings issued by the state meteorological authorities before, during and after the extreme weather events and the subsequent flooding along with the proposed self-protection measures.\
• the recorded precipitation in several areas of the Rambla del Poyo ephemeral stream that contributed to its overflowing and to the generation of the flood disaster.
• The direct impact on human life including fatalities, missing and rescued people based on official reports of the Government of Spain and the Civil Protection authorities involved in the emergency response and the disaster management.
• The emergency mapping of the flood extent by the Copernicus Emergency Management System activated shortly after the completion of the floods and space technology companies provided freely related satellite imagery before and after the destructive phenomena revealing the extent of the flood.
• Field data collected during the scientific mission of Prof. E. Lekkas and Dr. S. Mavroulis comprising flood impact on several elements of the built environment including:
  - residential buildings,
  - industrial zones,
  - movable objects,
  - networks and critical infrastructure (roads, railroads, bridges, airports etc.)
• The indirect impact during the flood aftermath comprising the potential for emergence of sporadic cases, outbreaks and epidemics of infectious diseases due to the adverse effects in affected area
• The emergency response of the health authorities of Spain in order to prevent further impact on public health during the post-disaster phase.
• The emergency response and recovery actions implemented by the Civil Protection authorities including the field activities and the measures for financial support of the flood affected communities and residents.
• The mobilization of thousands of volunteer residents of Valencia City and Province for participating in recovery actions and supporting the flood-affected population.

The issue is available here.