Disaster Risk M anagement related to heavy Rainfall: Case Study Agüita de la Perdiz, Chile

Abstract

The community "Agüita de la Perdiz" is located within the city of Concepción which is the second largest city in Chile. Due to the fact that the area is only accessible by one single road,the community is characterized by a strong sense of identity w ith high levels of community organization and participation. (see also D ebels et al. 2008). On June 26th 2005 a precipitation event of 162.2 mm in 24 hours occurred which was an amount that had not been experienced during the last 142 years. Physical vulnerability such as settlements on high slopes exposed to high landslide risk as w ell as social vulnerability created through high levels of poverty, inhospitable conditions and the illegal occupation of the area led to the partial or totaldestruction of almost 100 homes.