Spain is in mourning, with at least 158 confirmed deaths as authorities advised residents in flood-affected areas to remain indoors while rescue teams urgently search for survivors in this unprecedented disaster.
A highly powerful Mediterranean storm that struck on Tuesday brought intense rainfall and torrents of muddy water that devastated communities, especially in the eastern Valencia region, which experienced the most severe impact.
The agency overseeing rescue operations in Valencia stated that 155 bodies had been recovered in the region.
Authorities in Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia reported a total of three deaths across their regions as of yesterday.
“Please, stay at home and heed the advice of emergency services,” urged Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
“At this moment, saving as many lives as possible is the utmost priority,” Mr. Sanchez communicated to the residents of the eastern provinces of Valencia and Castellon.
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King Felipe VI warned that the emergency is “not over yet,” and AEMET, the national weather service, has placed parts of the eastern and southern regions on high alert for additional rainfall.
Flags were flown at half-mast on government buildings, and a nationwide moment of silence occurred as the country embarked on three days of mourning following the deadliest floods seen in decades.
Meteorologists reported that a year’s worth of rainfall fell in just eight hours across parts of Valencia on Tuesday.
Eliu Sanchez, a resident of a Valencia suburb, recounted witnessing a man being swept away while trying to seek refuge on top of a vehicle.
“I’ve heard stories of people clinging to trees, but the relentless force of the water made them let go, and they were carried away, calling for help. Trucks and other debris were floating everywhere,” he shared.
In Godelleta, 37km west of Valencia city, 52-year-old Antonio Molina described his survival during the flash flood by clinging to a neighbor’s porch pillar, with water rising to his neck until the heavy rain finally ceased.
His dog was later found alive swimming in the floodwaters, while his wife and son managed to escape to the upper floor of their home.
Having faced two significant floods in 2018 and 2020, Mr. Molina expressed frustration, blaming authorities for permitting residential development in low-lying areas prone to flooding.
“We don’t want to live here anymore,” he said tearfully. “Every time it drizzles, we’re glued to our phones checking updates.”
The devastation caused by the flooding in Sedavi, south of Valencia
Catastrophe
Emergency responders, supported by drones and over 1,200 troops, worked tirelessly to sift through mud-strewn towns and villages in search of survivors and to clear debris from roads.
Abandoned vehicles were stacked precariously atop one another, resembling dominoes, while some residents used planks of wood to navigate through thick, sticky mud, as reported by AFP journalists in the Valencia region.
In Paiporta, a suburb of Valencia city heavily impacted by the flooding, 27-year-old musician David Romero described the situation as a “catastrophe.”
“Street after street, neighborhood after neighborhood, there isn’t a single business left standing,” he lamented to AFP.
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Hundreds of individuals are currently sheltered in temporary accommodations, while road and rail services face significant disruptions.
Transport Minister Oscar Puente indicated that it could take up to three weeks to resume operations on the high-speed rail line between Madrid and Valencia.
Warning systems
Scientists assert that climate change driven by human activities is exacerbating the duration, frequency, and intensity of extreme weather events, making them more unpredictable and harder to manage.
The political ramifications of the disaster are already unfolding, with questions arising regarding the effectiveness of warning systems.
Read more: Spain floods a ‘sudden, catastrophic experience for many’ ‘It was mania’ – Irish in Spain affected by floods Striking images show devastation in Spain after floods Spain’s deadly flooding and its links to climate change
Mr. Romero conveyed that the flood warnings in Paiporta came only after the local river had already overflowed, catching many residents unprepared.
“There were no warnings at all… they had to retrieve the deceased bar owner here from the floodwaters, it was chaos,” Mr. Rigon, a 21-year-old, told AFP.
The conservative head of the Valencia region seemed to redirect responsibility towards the left-leaning central government.
However, the interior ministry criticized the spread of “erroneous information,” emphasizing that regions in Spain’s decentralized political framework are responsible for managing civil protection in emergencies.
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