Written by Sharika Tasnim
Edited by Izyan Nazihah
The force of the floods swept cars away — residents were dealing with the clean-up | Credit: Reuters
PAIPORTA, 1st November 2024: In the midst of three days of national mourning, Spain is coming to terms with one of the deadliest flood disasters in its modern history. The floods, which struck Valencia and nearby regions on Tuesday night, have claimed at least 158 lives and left countless others reeling from the devastation. Towns such as Paiporta, where a river burst its banks, were among the hardest hit, with over 60 people losing their lives there alone.
In Paiporta, residents like Letícia Cardona Teruel set out on foot to the regional capital, Valencia, hoping for safety as roads remained impassable. “Everything is destroyed,” Cardona Teruel told The Guardian, describing scenes of cars piled up and debris strewn across streets, comparing it to a “zombie apocalypse.”
Survivors expressed anger at the lack of early warning. Paiporta’s mayor, Maribel Albalat, said that without an alert, many residents took to garages to save their cars, unknowingly putting themselves at greater risk. “It was a trap,” Albalat told Spanish broadcaster TVE, highlighting the frustration with delayed official communication.
An aerial view of the destruction and flooding near Valencia on Thursday | Credit: Reuters
For many, the floodwaters came as a shock. Some areas saw little to no rainfall before torrents of water inundated towns, leaving residents unprepared. English teacher Andries Klarenberg recalled seeing cars floating past his window, his thoughts racing to his family, who were trapped in their nearby car. Klarenberg’s wife, Florencia Rey, narrowly escaped with their newborn after wading through floodwaters to safety.
As Spain grapples with the rising death toll, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, visiting affected areas, emphasised the priority of rescuing survivors. On Thursday, over 1,200 emergency workers, supported by drones, worked tirelessly to search for those still missing.
The disaster has raised questions about the country’s preparedness for such catastrophic events. Spain’s civil protection service issued a flood warning late on Tuesday, hours after the worst of the flooding had begun. In towns like Paiporta, the alert was received only after the streets were already submerged, leading to public outcry over the delayed response.
Pharmacist Miguel assessing the destruction in his shop on Thursday in Paiporta, Valencia | Credit: Reuters
Experts attribute the severity of the storm to a gota fría event, a seasonal weather pattern in which cold air meets the warm waters of the Mediterranean, creating intense rainfall. However, scientists stress that climate change has amplified these storms, causing them to carry more moisture and unleash more powerful downpours. Dr Friederike Otto of Imperial College London confirmed that warming temperatures have made extreme weather like this more likely.
The disaster has left lasting scars. In the care home in Paiporta, where floods hit during dinnertime, six residents lost their lives as staff frantically worked to evacuate them. Families across the region are now left to grieve as the arduous cleanup begins.—TBC
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