Valencia hit by deadly floods: 95 dead as a year's rain falls in a day

Valencia faces catastrophic flooding as an entire year’s rainfall hits in a single day, leaving 95 dead. Torrential rains triggered severe floods, sweeping through communities, disrupting lives, and causing extensive damage across the region. Emergency responders are working tirelessly, while residents face overwhelming losses in one of the most devastating natural disasters Valencia has experienced.

At least 95 people have lost their lives in what may be Spain's deadliest modern-day flood after relentless rain hammered the eastern region of Valencia, destroying bridges and buildings, local authorities reported on Wednesday.

Meteorologists noted that in parts of Valencia, the equivalent of a year's rainfall fell within just eight hours on Tuesday, causing highway pile-ups and submerging large areas of farmland. This region is responsible for two-thirds of Spain's citrus production, a key global export.

Residents in the hardest-hit areas described witnessing people climbing onto car roofs as a rushing tide of brown water tore through streets, uprooting trees and pulling chunks of masonry from buildings. "It was like a river coming through," said Denis Hlavaty, who waited to be rescued on a ledge at the petrol station where he works in Valencia’s capital. "The doors were swept away, and I spent the night surrounded by water two meters deep."

Defense Minister Margarita Robles told Cadena Ser radio that a military rescue unit with sniffer dogs would begin combing through the mud and debris on Thursday in the worst-hit areas. When asked about the possibility of rising fatalities, she said, "Unfortunately, we are not optimistic." The team brought 50 mobile morgues to assist in the recovery.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pledged to rebuild destroyed infrastructure and offered condolences in a televised address: "For those still searching for loved ones, all of Spain mourns with you."

Footage captured by emergency services showed collapsed bridges and vehicles piled up on highways amid flooded fields near Valencia. Train services to Madrid and Barcelona were halted, while schools and essential services were suspended in the worst-affected areas. Electricity provider i-DE, owned by Iberdrola, reported 150,000 customers in Valencia without power. Emergency services advised residents to avoid travel and follow official updates.

In areas such as Turis, Chiva, and Bunol, rainfall exceeded 400 mm (15.75 inches), prompting the state weather agency AEMET to declare a red alert on Tuesday, later downgraded to amber on Wednesday as the rain lessened. Additional flooding also struck other regions, including Andalusia, with forecasts warning of worsening weather as the storm moved northeast.

"The flood swept away many dogs, horses, everything," said Antonio Carmona, a construction worker and resident of Alora in Andalusia.

DEADLIEST FLOODING IN SPAIN

The death toll, including three victims from other regions, appears to be Europe’s highest due to flooding since 2021 when at least 185 people died in Germany. This disaster may be Spain's worst modern flood, surpassing the 87 deaths in a 1996 flood near Biescas in the Pyrenees. A 1957 flood in Valencia, which prompted the re-routing of the Turia River, also claimed dozens of lives.

Juanma Moreno, Andalusia's regional leader, reported that a 71-year-old British man died from heart failure in a hospital after being rescued from his flooded home in Malaga, where he suffered from hypothermia.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed solidarity on X, stating Europe is ready to assist. "What we’re seeing in Spain is devastating," she shared.

ASAJA, a major Spanish farming organization, reported significant crop damage. According to trade data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Spain is the top global exporter of fresh and dried oranges, with the Valencia region producing around 60% of Spain's citrus.

Scientists warn that climate change is causing extreme weather events to become more frequent. Meteorologists suggest that warming in the Mediterranean, which leads to increased water evaporation, intensifies heavy rainfall. "Such events, which used to occur over many decades, are now more frequent and increasingly destructive," said Ernesto Rodriguez Camino, senior state meteorologist and member of the Spanish Meteorological Association.

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Source: Reuters‍