Spain is grappling with its deadliest flooding disaster since 1973, with at least 95 people confirmed dead and dozens missing after devastating flash floods swept through the eastern province of Valencia and surrounding regions.
The catastrophe, triggered by torrential rainfall on Tuesday, destroyed bridges and buildings, forcing residents to seek refuge on rooftops and in trees. Valencia province recorded 92 fatalities, whilst two deaths occurred in neighbouring Castilla-La Mancha and one in Málaga, where a 71-year-old British man died in hospital after being rescued.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared three days of national mourning, telling victims in a Wednesday address: “The whole of Spain weeps with you… we won’t abandon you”.
The town of Chiva, near Valencia, experienced a year’s worth of rainfall in just eight hours, according to national weather agency Aemet. As Spanish army and emergency crews conducted rescue operations on Wednesday, including helicopter winch rescues, survivors shared their accounts of Tuesday’s devastation.
Guillermo Serrano Pérez, 21, from Paiporta near Valencia, described how “tsunami-like” waters forced his family to abandon their vehicle and climb onto a bridge. Another witness told El País newspaper how motorway drivers formed a human chain along a central reservation to escape the rising waters.
Just absolutely terrifying scenes from Chiva, the home of the Valencia Grand Prix. Praying that everyone is OK pic.twitter.com/3O0Xm0uLUQ
— Simon Patterson (@denkmit) October 30, 2024
Questions have emerged about the response time of disaster relief authorities. The civil protection agency did not issue an alert until 20:15 on Tuesday, two hours after several towns had already been flooded. Valencia’s regional government has also faced criticism for disbanding the Valencia Emergency Unit, previously established to handle natural disasters.
More than 1,000 troops have been deployed for rescue efforts, though flooded roads and damaged infrastructure are hampering operations. The European Union has activated its Copernicus satellite system to assist Spanish rescue teams, whilst neighbouring countries have offered support.
More than 1,000 soldiers from an emergency response team were deployed, and officials said that many more residents were waiting for help, after more than a month’s worth of rain fell in less than 24 hours in some areas across southern and eastern Spain. https://t.co/31jX27Pbub pic.twitter.com/FBorsjgHmK
— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 30, 2024
Scientists attribute the intense rainfall to a “gota fria” – a seasonal weather pattern – but warn that climate change has intensified the phenomenon. Dr Friederike Otto from Imperial College London told the BBC: “With every fraction of a degree of fossil fuel warming, the atmosphere can hold more moisture, leading to heavier bursts of rainfall”.
Weather officials warn the rains are now moving towards Catalonia, with flood alerts issued across several regions. The death toll, already the highest since 1973’s floods claimed 150 lives, is expected to rise as many remain missing.
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