Students’ perceptions of natural hazards among secondary school students in the Vega Baja del Segura (Spain): a general overview and nuances between Spanish and foreign students.

Article

Abstract

In the Vega Baja del Segura region of Alicante (Spain), natural hazards pose a constant threat to the population. Events such as the Santa Teresa flood (1879), the DANA of 2019 and the earthquake of 1829 highlight its vulnerability, which is exacerbated by climate change and land use. This study analyses the perception of these phenomena among 3rd year secondary school students (n=270) through a questionnaire and the differences between national and foreign students. The results show that the majority identify floods (65.6%) and earthquakes (55.2%) as current threats, while drought is less of a concern (31.9%). However, some students are not fully aware of the seriousness of these risks, and this lack of awareness is uneven between the two groups. Furthermore, 80.7% do not perceive the relationship between physical and human causes, which highlights the need to strengthen education on natural hazards.