Spain’s deadliest flooding in decades sees rising death toll

Spain is currently experiencing its most severe flooding event in decades, resulting in at least 95 fatalities and numerous individuals reported missing. This follows extensive rainfall across the eastern province of Valencia and surrounding areas. On Tuesday, torrential rainfall led to flash floods that destroyed bridges and structures, compelling residents to seek refuge on rooftops or by clinging to trees for survival. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced three days of national mourning. The ongoing severe weather conditions are hindering certain rescue operations. The government has stated that the number of fatalities is anticipated to increase, as “many people are still missing.” During his national address on Wednesday, Sanchez advised citizens to maintain vigilance and committed to a complete recovery, assuring victims: “The whole of Spain weeps with you… we won’t abandon you”. While his government has not yet explicitly connected the “unprecedented” extreme weather to climate change, scientists have informed the BBC that rising global temperatures evidently exacerbated the heavy rainfall. Chiva, one of the initial towns affected near Valencia, recorded a year’s equivalent of rainfall within an eight-hour period on Tuesday, as reported by the national weather agency Aemet. On Wednesday, as precipitation diminished in the central-eastern part of the country, weather authorities cautioned that the rains were progressing northeast towards the Catalonia region. Additionally, weather advisories have been issued for various other areas nationwide, advising residents to prepare for floods and seek refuge. On Wednesday morning, as Spanish army and emergency personnel rapidly conducted rescue operations—which included lifting individuals to safety from balconies and vehicle rooftops—survivors in Valencia shared their harrowing experiences of the floods from Tuesday night. Abrupt water surges transformed streets and roads into rivers, surprising numerous drivers. Guillermo Serrano Pérez, 21, from Paiporta near Valencia, described the water rushing down a highway “like a tsunami,” which compelled him and his parents to abandon their vehicle and ascend a bridge to survive. Another eyewitness recounted an incident where drivers on a motorway, realizing a torrent of water was approaching, formed a human chain to escape along a raised central reservation. Patricia Rodriguez, 45, informed El País newspaper, “Thank goodness no one slipped because if anyone had fallen, the current would have dragged them away.” A resident of La Torre informed the BBC that some of his acquaintances had lost their residences, and on Tuesday night, he “saw cars floating in the water” and observed the tides “breaking through some walls.” Concurrently, the mayor of Horno de Alcedo, a town situated just outside Valencia, explained to BBC Newshour how water levels ascended by more than a meter in mere minutes. Consuelo Tarazon stated, “The currents were so quick – and we called the emergency services who started rescuing some people who had water up to their necks”. Across Spain, there are extensive allegations that, in numerous instances, disaster relief authorities were too slow in issuing warnings, which prevented people from evacuating roads or reaching higher ground. The civil protection agency, which is activated during national disasters, did not issue an alert until 20:15 local time on Tuesday evening. By that point, Chiva and several other towns had already experienced flooding for a minimum of two hours. Valencia’s regional government has also found itself defending its choice to dismantle a Valencia Emergency Unit, an entity established by the previous administration specifically for natural disasters like flooding and wildfires. On Wednesday, Spain deployed over 1,000 troops to assist with rescue operations; however, numerous teams remain isolated from towns due to inundated roads and non-functional communication and power lines. European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU had activated its Copernicus satellite system to aid in coordinating Spanish rescue teams. Additionally, other European nations have extended offers to dispatch reinforcements. Earlier on Wednesday, Spain’s defence minister, Margarita Robles, had characterized the regional flooding as “an unprecedented phenomenon.” While numerous factors contribute to flooding, an atmosphere warming due to climate change increases the probability of extreme rainfall. Weather researchers have identified the primary probable cause of the intense rainfall as a “gota fria,” which is a natural weather phenomenon occurring in Spain during autumn and winter when cold air descends upon warmer Mediterranean waters. Nevertheless, scientists informed the BBC that the rise in global temperatures has resulted in clouds carrying a greater volume of rain. Dr. Friederike Otto from Imperial College London, who heads an international scientific group investigating the role of warming in such events, stated: “With every fraction of a degree of fossil fuel warming, the atmosphere can hold more moisture, leading to heavier bursts of rainfall.” She added, “No doubt about it, these explosive downpours were intensified by climate change.” Global temperatures have already increased by approximately 1.1°C since the onset of the industrial era, and temperatures are projected to continue rising unless governments worldwide implement substantial reductions in emissions. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.