Spain is reeling from devastating flash floods that have claimed at least 95 lives, with emergency responders still searching for dozens of missing individuals. The Valencia region was hardest hit, with 92 reported deaths, according to Angel Victor Torres, Spain’s Minister of Territorial Policy. Additional fatalities occurred in Castile-La-Mancha and Andalusia, adding to the tragic toll.
On Tuesday, the worst rainfall Valencia has seen in 28 years brought up to 12 inches of rain in a few hours, submerging streets and rendering highways unusable. In Valencia’s Paiporta area, 40 people, including six from a retirement home, lost their lives. Streets became rivers, cars overturned, and thousands were left stranded on highways, while emergency services worked tirelessly to locate those still missing.
Emiliano García-Page, president of Castile-La-Mancha, compared the situation to a levee break, noting the difficulty in reaching residents in distress. “People were calling emergency numbers crying, asking for help,” García-Page told Spanish broadcaster TVE. Efforts are also underway in other affected regions, including Malaga, where a 71-year-old British man died from hypothermia.
The sheer volume of rainfall, known as a “cold drop,” was Valencia’s worst in decades. According to meteorologists, this phenomenon occurs when cooler air pools high in the atmosphere, leading to severe rain events, especially in autumn. The storms caused rivers to overflow, sweeping away cars and even damaging the lower floors of buildings.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has pledged full government support for affected areas and urged the public to remain vigilant. Three days of mourning have been declared, and Sanchez plans to visit Valencia on Thursday to assess the situation. Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced that over 1,000 military personnel are aiding in rescue efforts.
As climate change intensifies, such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, with warmer oceans and a hotter atmosphere leading to heavier and more severe rainfall events. Rain warnings continue across eastern and southern Spain, with heavy showers expected to persist through the week.
