Orihuela will become a hub for international disaster-risk experts this Thursday and Friday as it hosts the 4th International Awareness Conference on Seismic Risk at the Auditorio La Lonja. The event brings together researchers and specialists from Italy, Norway, Iceland, the United Kingdom, Greece and Spain, alongside academics from the University of Alicante and municipal emergency teams.
The conference focuses on advancing knowledge and coordination in the prevention, planning and response to earthquakes, tsunamis, floods and extreme weather events. Its goal is to strengthen disaster-risk reduction by connecting science, public administration, emergency services and citizens to increase territorial resilience.
Orihuela’s selection as host highlights the region’s exposure to natural hazards — from the 2019 floods, which dumped 346 mm of rain in a single day, to the historic 1829 Torrevieja earthquake (magnitude 6.5). These events make the city a “real laboratory” for studying evacuations, infrastructure access, heritage impacts and emergency planning.
Over the two-day program, experts will address cutting-edge topics including rapid seismic-response systems (UrgentShake), tsunami modelling, AI and digital twins for emergencies, building instrumentation, flood-risk social impacts and the seismic vulnerability of Orihuela’s historic Santo Domingo College.
Councillor for Emergencies, Víctor Valverde, stressed that “Orihuela has learned that prevention saves lives,” adding that the city is becoming an international reference point in civil-protection training and research. University of Alicante professor Sergio Molina highlighted the need to turn scientific advances into practical tools for public safety, noting that modern technology allows real-time monitoring and simulation of earthquakes and tsunamis.
The event is organised by a multidisciplinary scientific and technical committee featuring university researchers, international institutions and experts from Orihuela Council.
