Earth Science Malaysia (ESMY)

Urban flooding in Edo State, Nigeria, has intensified due to rapid urbanization, land use/land cover (LULC) change, and climatic variability. Identifying areas of exposure and vulnerability is critical for planning and risk reduction. This study employed Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) to analyze Landsat imagery and classify LULC. Climate data (rainfall and temperature distribution) were integrated to map flood vulnerability across the study area. Flood risk zones were further delineated using spatial analysis of land cover, topography, and climatic factors. Landsat image classification identified five land cover types: built-up areas (14.58%), agricultural land (48.93%), bare ground (5.06%), water bodies (5.35%), and vegetation (26.08%). Results show that anthropogenic activities such as deforestation, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development significantly alter LULC, heightening flood vulnerability, particularly in agricultural zones. Rainfall distribution showed that areas receiving 2100–2400 mm annually were highly vulnerable, 1600–2000 mm zones moderately vulnerable, and 1300–1500 mm zones low risk. Temperature mapping revealed high-temperature areas occupying 20.63% of the landscape, medium-temperature zones 33.97%, and low-temperature zones 45.40%. Flood risk assessment indicated that 4.78% of the area is at very low risk, 10.20% at low risk, 19.75% at moderate risk, 30.70% at high risk, and the largest share within very high risk. Flood-prone regions in Edo State are strongly influenced by topography, vegetation loss, soil compaction, and precipitation variability. The findings highlight the urgent need for climate-responsive urban policies, sustainable land management, and inclusive adaptation strategies to reduce the increasing threat of urban flooding in the state.