Experts suggest that powerful storms, exacerbated by a warming planet, inadequate urban planning, and negligence, have culminated in Spain’s most lethal floods in a generation.
Officials in the European nation have reported a provisional death toll of 158, with concerns that this number may increase as rescue teams search through debris and mud for missing individuals.
Exceptionally severe weather
Areas in the eastern Valencia region experienced torrential rains that brought a year’s worth of rainfall within just hours, as reported by the national weather service AEMET.
This deluge was attributed to a seasonal storm phenomenon where cold air passes over the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, generating intense rain clouds.
Experts indicate that human-induced climate change is raising ocean temperatures, thereby intensifying storm activity.
The warmer Mediterranean waters and the season’s characteristics fueled the torrential rains in what Jorge Olcina, a climate scientist at Alicante University, described as a “dramatic” mix related to climate change.
When storms escalate to such extremes, they can exhibit effects akin to “hurricanes” or “tropical cyclones,” he emphasized in an audio message to AFP.
Dry and artificial terrains
The dry ground in the areas most severely affected aggravated the situation following two consecutive years of significant droughts in Spain.
The earth was unable to absorb the immense volume of water, causing flash floods to surge through communities.
Furthermore, many regions in Valencia have seen natural landscapes replaced by non-porous concrete.
This unchecked urban development is “unregulated and poorly suited to the natural features of the territory,” thus heightening the risks posed by intense storms, noted Pablo Aznar from the Socioeconomic Observatory of Floods and Droughts.
The population density in the Valencia region, home to Spain’s third-largest city of the same name with nearly 1.9 million residents, also played a significant role.
The population density “was a crucial factor” and posed a “challenge” for authorities, Mr. Aznar remarked.
Rush hour on the roads
The storm’s timing could not have been worse, as it intensified late Tuesday just as drivers were on the roads during evening rush hour.
Many victims were caught off guard in their vehicles while returning home or walking, with some being swept away by the torrential waters as they clung to lampposts or trees.
Such tragic incidents might have been avoided had residents been appropriately warned in advance, allowing them to seek shelter at home, according to Hannah Cloke, a hydrology professor at the University of Reading in the UK.
A view of damaged vehicles after catastrophic flash floods due to heavy rain in Catarroja municipality of Valencia, Spain
Lack of vigilance
AEMET issued a red alert for the Valencia region on Tuesday morning, but the civil protection agency only sent out text alerts advising people not to leave their homes after 8:00 PM (7:00 PM Irish time).
Despite receiving alerts, some individuals admitted they still left their homes, indicating a lack of understanding regarding the emergency.
While there were “communication failures,” the issue is compounded by Spain’s lack of a “risk culture,” Mr. Aznar told AFP.
“Our collective mindset is still not adequately attuned to the challenges presented by new extreme weather patterns.”
Olcina concurred, stating, “We must significantly enhance risk education in schools and within the general population, enabling them to respond appropriately in emergencies.”
