Severe flooding in Valencia: DANA storm
Cheste, located in Valencia. Image credit: Gemma M.
Valencia, Spain, has been hit hard by severe flooding caused by a DANA (which stands for isolated high-level depression), resulting in the deaths of at least 51 individuals and creating widespread disruption throughout eastern Spain.
The Civil Guard has confirmed the fatalities, noting that places like Torrent, Paiporta, and Chiva were particularly affected. Carlos Mazón, the president of Valencia, described the incident as a tragedy resulting in "multiple deaths," while emphasizing that the precise count is still being checked. He added, "We have discovered deceased individuals, but out of consideration for the families, we will refrain from sharing further information."
Residents Trapped By Floods In Valencia
The floods, which Spain's Defence Minister Margarita Robles called an "unprecedented event," have left many residents stranded. Numerous individuals spent the night on top of cars, in shops, and on petrol stations, waiting to be rescued. According to local officials, at least 50 people are still stuck in the Bonaire shopping center in Aldaia, as the Barranc de la Saleta overflowed, leading to severe flooding in the area.
Spanish Military Rescues Flood Victims In Valencia
Over 1,000 personnel from the Spanish Military Emergency Unit (UME) have been dispatched. In Letur, Albacete, the military is participating in efforts to locate six individuals who have gone missing following heavy rainfall in the region.
In Cullera, Valencia, the Júcar River has flooded, leading to evacuations in places such as Való, Pegunta, and Marenyet. The local government has advised residents to stay indoors, move their cars away from the river, and refrain from traveling unless it's essential. Numerous locations, like schools, healthcare facilities, and sports centers, are shut down until a later announcement. The Benimaclet shelter is offering space for those without homes, as well as the Social Emergency Centre on Calle Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Emergency text alerts have been sent to mobile phones advising against travel across the Valencia province.
Valencia Floods: Personal Stories And Experiences
Cadena SER shared the account of a young man who, along with 20 others, found themselves stuck overnight in the Silla funeral home due to a sudden surge of floodwaters while he was driving in an industrial area. "We had to force the door open to enter as the water was rising," he recounted, noting that they took shelter on the second floor because the ground floor was submerged in more than a meter of water.
In the town of Cheste, images showed vehicles stacked and drifting along a road that had effectively transformed into a river. One local, Gemma M, described the scene as "complete mayhem all around."
Floods In Valencia Cause Travel Disruptions
Train operations are currently on hold, and several roads are blocked in Valencia, Teruel, Albacete, and surrounding areas, as emergency teams work to manage the crisis.
Renfe has announced that all commuter train services in Valencia, which cover routes to Gandía, Moixent, Utiel, and Castellón, are currently suspended. Furthermore, high-speed train services to Madrid are also on hold while they undergo evaluation.
Eurocontrol, the European organization responsible for air traffic management, has noted that there have been flight interruptions at various airports in Spain, including those in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia.
The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) is advising everyone to stay off the roads in Valencia because of closures. Significant routes, such as parts of the A-3 and A-7 motorways, along with various local streets, have been shut down due to flooding. Additionally, the Valencian Government's Emergency Coordination Centre (CEE) has issued an Es-Alert mobile alert for civil protection, encouraging residents to refrain from driving.
The Valencia port has also been shut down.
The Insurance Compensation Consortium has announced that they are ready to start processing damage claims once it is deemed safe.
Severe weather conditions have affected airports in Spain as well as several significant airports throughout Europe. Eurocontrol has alerted travelers to potential flight delays in London, Heathrow, Frankfurt, Zurich, Brussels, and Paris, impacting both flights arriving and departing.
The recent floods and persistent extreme weather highlight the risks associated with climate change, which has shown a growing connection to intense weather occurrences across Europe.
Keep an eye out for updates.