THE FLOOD IN VARNA CITY IN JUNE 2014 - A NATURAL OR MAN - MADE DISASTER?

Abstract

The publication aims to study the flood formation mechanisms of the devastating flood in 2014 in the Varna City, Republic of Bulgaria. Another reason for the study is to improve our understanding of the complex interactions between the factors (natural and anthropogenic) determining the formation and the scale (intensity and territorial scope) of the flood and which turned the natural phenomenon a disaster. The systemic approach is used to analyse flood formation mechanisms. The spatial analysis method takes a central place in the examination of the flood formation factors and mechanisms, using GIS as a tool for analysis. The established result of the study is that flood in Varna was caused by the manifestation of the two types of floods river and pluvial floods. The reasons for turning the natural phenomenon into disaster are related tо the home construction in the gully , the great construction density of the neighbourhood, the reduced conduction of the gully and the hydrotechnical facilities. Last but not least, the large number of human casualties is the insufficient awareness of the inhabitants of the flood hazard and the preparedness for an adequate individual response to protection.