Spatial – Social Inequalities in the Face of Flood hazard; Case Study: MIYANEH City

Urbanization expansion and increasing urban population especially in developing countries with horizontal growth of cities have increased the need for land. This need especially in mountain countries such as Iran that its main part of smooth lands located in river beds, has been extended to flood zones inevitably. Mianeh city like all civic centers of Iran in past is located alongside water resources such as rivers. Today, increasing urban population and physical expanding of cities have increased the need for land for future physical development. This study aims at analyzing spatial-social inequalities in the face of flood hazard. This study according to aim is a scientific research and according to quiddity is a causal-adaptive research. Data were collected by 300 questionnaires and T-test and Chi-square were used to test hypothesis. According to these tests, there is a meaningful relationship between family average income and spatial-social inequalities in the face of flood hazard. Family with low income cannot afford to buy house in safe regions. Thus, they settle in accidental areas and family with high income settle in area far from flood hazard. Lack of paying attention to urbanization principles and criteria of choosing location has caused 28/8 hectare of Mianeh city area to be located in hazard Zone of Quri Chay River. Lack of paying attention to riverside and constructing residential places in riversides lead to river bed limitation and rising water level and finally causing many damages in flood courses.