VALENCIA, Oct 30: Flash floods in the eastern region of Valencia have led to at least 51 fatalities after torrential rains on Tuesday, according to local authorities on Wednesday. The severe weather has submerged roads and inundated towns, triggering extensive emergency responses.
Social media videos revealed distressing scenes of individuals trapped by rising floodwaters, with some climbing trees to avoid being swept away. Carlos Mazon, the regional leader of Valencia, held a press conference where he mentioned that some people remain stranded in areas that are difficult to access. “If emergency services have not arrived, it’s not due to a lack of means or willingness, but an issue of access,” he stated, noting that reaching certain locations was “absolutely impossible.”
Authorities have advised residents to refrain from all road travel and to monitor updates from official sources. The flooding has caused significant disruptions, including the cancellation of train services to key cities like Madrid and Barcelona, and the suspension of schools and essential services in the worst-affected areas.
Footage from Alzira showed firefighters rescuing stranded motorists amidst the heavy rain, while vehicles remained stuck in flooded streets. In response to the emergency, the UME military unit, trained in rescue operations, was deployed to assist local emergency workers.
Spain’s state weather agency, AEMET, issued a red alert for Valencia, a crucial citrus-producing region, with some areas, such as Turis and Utiel, recording rainfall of 200 mm (7.9 inches). This disaster marks one of the deadliest flooding events in Europe since 2021, when nearly 200 people died, mostly in Germany.
Experts caution that climate change is exacerbating the frequency of extreme weather events in the region, with meteorologists attributing the severity of torrential rains to the warming of the Mediterranean, which increases water evaporation.
