Rescue operations are currently underway following a deadly flash flooding incident in Spain
Spain is facing its worst flooding catastrophe in decades, with at least 95 individuals reported dead and many more missing, after massive rains hit the eastern province of Valencia and beyond.
On Tuesday, torrential rain caused flash floods that destroyed bridges and buildings, leading people to seek refuge on roofs or cling to trees to survive.
President Pedro Sánchez has announced three days of national mourning as the severe conditions persist, hindering some rescue operations.
The death toll is expected to rise as “there are numerous missing individuals,” according to government sources.
At least 92 fatalities were recorded in Valencia, with two more in Castilla-La Mancha to the west of Valencia and one in Málaga – a 71-year-old British man who passed away in hospital after being rescued from his residence.
This flooding death toll marks the highest in the country since 1973, when a minimum of 150 individuals were presumed dead in the worst floods ever witnessed in the southeast region.
During his national speech on Wednesday, President Sánchez urged citizens to remain alert and assured a complete recovery, expressing solidarity with the victims by stating: “The entire nation of Spain mourns with you… we will not abandon you.”
One of the initial towns affected near Valencia, Chiva, reported the equivalent of a year’s worth of rainfall on Tuesday within just an eight-hour period, as per the national weather agency Aemet.
AP
The tumultuous floodwaters swept away numerous cars in Valencia
Another witness recounted a situation where drivers on a motorway noticed a surge of water approaching them and formed a human chain to escape along a raised central reservation.
“Thankfully, nobody slipped because if anyone had fallen, the current would have carried them away,” stated Patricia Rodriguez, 45, as reported by El País newspaper.
A resident of La Torre informed the BBC that some of his friends had lost their homes, and on Tuesday night he witnessed cars floating in the water and tides breaking through certain walls.
Meanwhile, the mayor of Horno de Alcedo, a town just outside Valencia, told BBC Newshour how water levels rose by over a meter in a matter of minutes.
“The currents were so rapid – we contacted emergency services who began rescuing individuals submerged up to their necks,” shared Consuelo Tarazon.
Scores killed in Spanish flash flooding after torrential rain
There are widespread allegations in Spain that in numerous instances, disaster relief authorities were too slow to respond with alerts, causing people to be stranded on roads or unable to seek higher ground.
The civil protection agency, usually activated during national disasters, did not issue a warning until 20:15 on Tuesday evening local time – by which time, Chiva and several other towns had already been flooded for at least two hours.
Valencia’s regional government has also come under scrutiny for dismantling the Valencia Emergency Unit, established by the previous government to address natural disasters like flooding and wildfires.
Spain has deployed over 1,000 troops to aid in rescue operations on Wednesday, but many teams are currently isolated from towns due to flooded roads and disrupted communication and power lines.
The European Union’s chief, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the activation of the Copernicus satellite system to assist in coordinating Spanish rescue teams. Several other European countries have also offered to send reinforcements.
Spain’s Defence Minister Margarita Robles stated earlier on Wednesday that the widespread flooding across the region is “an unprecedented phenomenon.”
The rainfall has eased in central-eastern Spain on Wednesday, but meteorologists have warned that the rains are moving northeast towards the Catalonia region. Weather advisories have been issued in several other parts of the country, advising individuals to prepare for floods and seek shelter.
Numerous factors contribute to flooding, however, a warming atmosphere due to climate change increases the likelihood of extreme rainfall.
Meteorologists have identified a “gota fria” as the probable main cause of the intense rainfall – a natural weather phenomenon that affects Spain during autumn and winter when cold air descends over warmer waters in the Mediterranean.
Nonetheless, the rise in global temperatures has caused clouds to hold more moisture, resulting in heavier rainfall, as indicated by scientists speaking to the BBC.
“With every fraction of a degree of fossil fuel warming, the atmosphere can hold more moisture, leading to heavier bursts of rainfall,” stated Dr. Friederike Otto from Imperial College London, who heads an international group of scientists studying the impact of warming on such events.
“There is no doubt that climate change has intensified these sudden downpours.”
Since the industrial era began, global temperatures have risen by approximately 1.1C, and unless governments worldwide take significant steps to reduce emissions, temperatures will continue to climb.