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October 2024 Spain floods

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For other floods in Spain in 2024, see 2024 European floods § Spain.
October 2024 Spain floods
Map
Date29 October 2024 – 31 October 2024
LocationSpain (especially the Valencian Community, Castilla–La Mancha, and Andalusia)
CauseCold drop
Deaths161+
Missing"hundreds"
Property damage"substantial"

On 29 October 2024, torrential rain caused by an isolated low-pressure area at high levels brought over a year's worth of precipitation to several areas in southeastern Spain, including the Valencian Community, Castilla–La Mancha, and Andalusia. The resulting floodwaters caused the deaths of at least 161 people and substantial property damage.[1]

Background

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Reports of disastrous floods have been recorded throughout the history of Valencia, from the 14th century under the reign of James I of Aragon up to the contemporary period.[2] The 1957 Valencia flood, caused by a three-day cold drop (Spanish: gota fría), caused significant overflowing of the Túria river. A cold drop is a term used in Spain and France to describe heavy rains in the autumn.

The 1957 flood resulted in at least 81 fatalities. In response to the disaster, the government of Francisco Franco approved a plan to reroute the Turia to the south of Valencia, three kilometres from its original course.[3] In September 2019, floods killed six people in Vega Baja del Segura. As a measure to respond to future flooding incidents, the government of Ximo Puig legislated the Valencian Emergencies Unit (Valencian: Unitat Valenciana d'Emergències; Spanish: Unidad Valenciana de Emergencias), which never became operational. After the 2023 Valencian regional election, the government of Carlos Mazón canceled the establishment of the unit, which it considered to be "superfluous".[4]

On 25 October 2024, AEMET meteorologist Juan Jesús González Alemán warned that the upcoming cold drop had the potential to become a high impact storm. His statement was initially met with ridicule and accusations of "alarmism" on the social media platform X.[5]

Flooding

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In Valencia

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Multiple cars damaged by the collapsed façade of a convenience store in Alginet, a town in the Ribera Alta of Valencia

Starting on 29 October 2024, a cold drop brought drastic flash flooding to southern and south-eastern Spain, primarily in the Valencia region.[6] At 06:42, the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) issued an orange weather warning for the south of Valencia. Less than 20 minutes later, the port of Valencia announced it would be shutting down.[7] At 07:36, the AEMET issued a red weather warning for the Valencian interior and upgraded its previous warning to the highest level. By this time, the Plana d'Utiel was already receiving heavy rain.[7] By 10:30, emergency services were rescuing people from their vehicles in Ribera.[7]

At 11:30, the ravine in Chiva overflowed and flooded the municipality;[7] Chiva saw nearly 500 millimetres (20 in) of rainfall during the day.[6] At 11:45, emergency services issued an alert to municipalities situated along the Magro River. At 12:00 the Magro burst its banks in Utiel,[7] which recorded 200 mm (7.9 in) in rainfall.[8] At 12:20, emergency services alerted municipalities situated along the Poyo ravine. By the following hour, municipalities affected by the storm had been left without electricity or telephone services.[7]

Horta Sud, one of the most affected comarques of Valencia

At 13:00, Valencian President Carlos Mazón held a press conference, in which he claimed that the intensity of the storm would decrease by 18:00. But by 17:35, emergency services were already issuing alerts regarding the overflow of the Magro and Júcar rivers.[7] At 18:30, the Poyo burst its banks in Torrent and flooded downstream through several towns in Horta Sud. Many people were killed, while others sought refuge on the Autovía V-30 [es] or in shopping centres.

At 19:25, a bridge in Picanya was destroyed by the surging waters.[7] At 20:12, the Generalitat Valenciana issued an SMS alert, advising Valencian citizens to remain indoors. At 20:36, the Spanish government received a request for the intervention of the Military Emergencies Unit (UME) in the Valencian Community.[7] At 21:00, Mazón reappeared to declare the floods an "unprecedented situation".[7] Around midnight on 30 October, Mazón's social media team deleted a tweet in which he claimed that the storm would dissipate.[9]

On 30 October 2024, the 1973 New Turia Riverbed surged to capacity, sparing Valencia's city proper but worsening the catastrophic flooding across towns and suburbs to the south due to a funnel effect.[10]

While the South Plan [es]—a new riverbed for the Turia built after the catastrophic 1957 flood—protected the city of Valencia proper from major damage, it caused severe flooding in municipalities further south due to a funnel effect.[11][10] Towns like Paiporta, considered ground zero, saw dozens of deaths. The floods eventually affected all population centers in Horta Sud and most of those in Camp de Túria and Requena-Utiel.[12][13]

Other regions

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In Andalusia, the storm caused landslides[14][15] and damage to buildings, roads, bridges and agricultural land.[16][17][18] Several people had to be rescued by the Civil Guard.[19] Meteorologists issued predictions for further storms to hit the regions on 31 October 2024.[20]

The Region of Murcia was also affected by the flooding, although to a lesser degree than other regions.[21] Flooding also reached the provinces of Teruel and Zaragoza in Aragon.[22] Several videos taken of flash flooding showed civilians holding onto trees to resist the flood's rapid flow, with 30 people in Letur being trapped by floodwaters.[23]

Casualties

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The resulting floodwaters caused the deaths of at least 161 people,[1] including 155 in the province of Valencia,[24] two more in Castile-La Mancha[25] and one in Andalusia.[26][27][28] Hundreds of others were also missing,[29] including members of Spain's Romanian community.[30] The flooding also caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure, sweeping away cars while also derailing a high-speed train but not injuring any of its nearly 300 passengers.[23]

Aftermath

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Spanish rail operator Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias announced the suspension of all Valencia rail services for as long as it took for the situation to normalize.[31] This included suspensions for high-speed rail services from Valencia to Madrid, and all commuter train services in Valencia. Moreover Metrovalencia services were suspended, and parts of the Autovía A-3/E-901 and Autovía A-7/E-15, both major highways in the region, were blocked as a result of the floods and subsequent crashes,[32] as well as various other roads, which were impossible to transit.[33]

Twelve flights were diverted away from Valencia Airport due to heavy rainfall and winds, while 10 more arrivals and departures at the airport were cancelled.[citation needed] At Málaga Airport, numerous flights were cancelled or rerouted on 29 October,[34] until normal services resumed on 30 October.[19]

Over 1,000 Spanish troops were deployed to the worst impacted areas.[35] Due to the saturation of the emergency number caused by the high number of incidents being reported, many people took to social networks to ask for help for themselves or their family members.[36] The Circuit Ricardo Tormo race track in Cheste, Valencian Community was used as a relief centre, but some of its access roads were destroyed by the flooding.[37][38][39] The FIA Formula E Official Test and Women's Test, which were due to be held at the circuit on 4-7 November, were cancelled, and moved to Circuito del Jarama in San Sebastián de los Reyes, Community of Madrid. They were postponed to 5-8 November.[40][41][42]

The city government of Valencia suspended all sports events and school classes for 30 October.[43] Football games in the Copa del Rey involving teams from the Valencia region on 30 October were postponed to the following week.[44] The Seville book fair was suspended on 29 and 30 October.[19] Five games in the province of Valencia due to take place on 2 and 3 November, including Valencia against Real Madrid, were postponed.[45]

The electric grid suffered grave damages, and natural gas distribution services were suspended for safety reasons.[46] The monetary damage caused by the floods was expected to be the worst in Spanish history, superseding the 1983 Spanish floods.[47]

Response

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The Spanish government established a crisis committee to coordinate the national response to the disaster, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez publicly noting his monitoring of damage reports and missing persons updates. The Military Emergencies Unit was deployed to Valencia to aid rescue efforts. Emergency responders needed to use helicopters to lift trapped residents in Álora, Andalusia from a nearby swollen river.[31] King Felipe VI expressed his "desolation and concern at the tragedy" and "together with the Queen, we wish to convey our condolences to all the families affected who have lost loved ones and who still do not know what has happened to their relatives" and held a video conference with the Military Emergency Unit.[48][49] Three days of mourning were declared nationwide, from 31 October to 2 November.[50]

Valencian regional president Carlos Mazón reported that a number of residents were unaccounted for due to living in isolated areas rendered inaccessible to emergency rescuers due to flood damage. Mayor of Utiel Ricardo Gabaldon reported that water levels in the city rose to three meters, leaving several residents trapped in their homes and several others unaccounted for. He described 29 October as "the worst day of my life".[35]

The Mazón administration has been criticised for its management of the response to the flooding. Compromís spokesperson Àgueda Micó [es] held Mazón personally responsible for the deaths caused by the floods and accused him of "shirking his responsibilities".[51] Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the People's Party to which Mazón belongs defended the conduct of the Valencian president and instead held AEMET responsible for failing to promptly alert Valencians.[52] Feijóo's comments were contradicted by the timeline of events: AEMET issued its first red weather warning at 07:36; at 13:00, Mazón downplayed the severity of the storm and claimed it would dissipate by 18:00.[53]

Italian climatologist Stefano Materia attributed the severity of the flooding to the effects of climate change. He described the current Mediterranean as a "timebomb".[54] According to an analysis by Climate Central, the floods were influenced by the rising temperature of the Atlantic Ocean.[55]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b de Lucas, Andrea; Santos Viñas, María; Gómez, Nel (31 October 2024). "Ascienden a 161 las muertes por las lluvias e inundaciones en España" [Deaths from rain and flooding in Spain rise to 161]. Infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  2. ^ "La primera gran riada en la historia de Valencia fue en 1517: derribó tres puentes de cinco y hubo cientos de muertos" [The first major flood in the history of Valencia was in 1517: it destroyed three of the five bridges and left hundreds dead.]. El Español (in Spanish). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  3. ^ Carrión, R.; Nicasio, B. (13 August 2007). "Hasta aquí llegó la riada" [This is where the flood came]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  4. ^ Martínez, Laura (30 October 2024). "Qué era la Unidad Valenciana de Emergencias, el servicio de coordinación que Mazón suspendió al llegar al Gobierno". elDiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Un experto de AEMET avisó hace cinco días del peligro que suponía esta DANA y fue ridiculizado en redes sociales". elDiario.es (in Spanish). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  6. ^ a b "La peor gota fría en décadas devasta Valencia con al menos 70 víctimas mortales, decenas de desaparecidos y pueblos anegados". Artículo 14 (in Spanish). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Pitarch, Sergi (30 October 2024). "Cronología de una alerta que llegó tarde: "Cuando Utiel y Requena se inundan, se sabe lo que va a pasar después río abajo"". elDiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  8. ^ "At least 51 dead in Spain after heavy rain causes flooding". euronews. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Mazón borra el tuit en el que el martes afirmaba que el temporal disminuiría de intensidad a las 18.00 horas". elDiario.es (in Spanish). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  10. ^ a b "El efecto embudo y el brutal caudal de la rambla del Poyo, claves en el desastre". Levante-EMV (in Spanish). 31 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  11. ^ Torres, Andoni (30 October 2024). "Así está el nuevo cauce del Turia a su paso por Valencia: una imagen nunca vista" [This is how the new Turia's riverbed in Valencia is: a never-seen-before image]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  12. ^ Lorao, David (30 October 2024). "Se confirma la tragedia: al menos 62 muertos por la DANA en Valencia" [Tragedy is confirmed: at least 62 dead because of the cold drop in Valencia]. Artículo14 (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  13. ^ Olmos, Isabel (30 October 2024). "Riada en València: La alarma sonó demasiado tarde" [River overflow in Valencia: the alarm sounded too late]. Levante (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  14. ^ Jiménez Troyano, Andrea (29 October 2024). "Los estragos del temporal en Málaga a causa de la fuerte tormenta: desprendimientos e inundaciones en la capital". El Español (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Las lluvias torrenciales sobre Málaga, en imágenes". Diario Sur (in Spanish). 29 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  16. ^ Sánchez, Nacho (29 October 2024). "Granizos como pelotas de golf en El Ejido: "Parecía el fin del mundo"". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Una fuerte tormenta de granizo destroza coches y arrasa invernaderos en El Ejido". Canal Sur (in Spanish). 29 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  18. ^ Europa Press (29 October 2024). "Más de un centenar de incidencias por el temporal de lluvia y granizo en Almería". Diario de Almería (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  19. ^ a b c "Última hora de la DANA en Andalucía, en directo: inundaciones y carreteras cortadas por lluvias en Sevilla, Huelva, Málaga y Cádiz hoy" [Latest news from the DANA in Andalusia, live: floods and roads cut off by rain in Seville, Huelva, Malaga and Cadiz today]. ABC (in Spanish). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  20. ^ Wilson, Joseph (30 October 2024). "Spanish authorities report at least 51 dead from devastating flash floods". News10 ABC. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  21. ^ "Una DANA con más sustos que daños en la Región de Murcia". La Verdad (in Spanish). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  22. ^ Poveda, Ismael (30 October 2024). "La DANA irrumpe en Aragón y provoca inundaciones en varias localidades de Teruel y Zaragoza". El Mundo. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  23. ^ a b "Flash floods in Spain leave at least 51 people dead". Sky News. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  24. ^ Garcés, Carlos; Lidón, Inma; Pina, Marina; Atienza, Héctor; Velloso, Isabel (31 October 2024). "Sigue la búsqueda de desparecidos tras unas inundaciones históricas que dejan al menos 155 muertos solo en Valencia". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  25. ^ "Flash floods in Spain leave at least 72 people dead". Sky News. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  26. ^ "Primer fallecido en Andalucía como consecuencia de las inundaciones". Ideal (in Spanish). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  27. ^ "A DINA deixa xa 92 mortos só en Valencia; o Goberno decreta tres días de loito oficial". G24 (in Galician). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  28. ^ López, Adriana; Martínez, Marta; Vargas, Lino (31 October 2024). "Los muertos ascienden a 158 y el temporal pone en alerta máxima a Castellón y al sur de Tarragona". El Confidencial (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  29. ^ "Spain's Devastating Floods Leave 95 Dead, Hundreds Missing" (in Spanish). Morocco World News. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  30. ^ Otopeanu, Cristian (30 October 2024). "6 români găsiți în viață, 16 români rămân dispăruți în inundațiile din Spania, anunță MAE". Libertatea (in Romanian).
  31. ^ a b "Dozens killed as heavy rains, flash floods slam Spain". France 24. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  32. ^ Gonález, L; Quílez, S; Gómez, L; Fedriani, I (29 October 2024). "Inundaciones por la DANA, en directo" [Live: floods caused by the cold drop]. Radio-televisión española (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  33. ^ @DGTes (30 October 2024). "📢⚠️ Actualizamos la información por DANA:⚫️ Valencia, cortadas: A-3, Chiva y Mislata. ➡️A-7, en La Alcudia, y Sagunto. ➡️V-30, Mislata. ➡️V-31 y CV-36, Horno de Alcedo y Silla. ➡️CV-35,Titaguas. ➡️N-3, Villar de Olmos y Utiel. ➡️CV-33, Torrent. ➡️CV-50, Alzira" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  34. ^ "Atascos y retrasos en los vuelos por las intensas lluvias y la tormenta de rayos en Málaga" [Traffic jams and flight delays due to heavy rain and lightning in Malaga]. ABC (in Spanish). 29 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  35. ^ a b "More than 50 dead after torrential rain brings flash flooding to Spain". The Independent. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  36. ^ "Personas atrapadas por la dana piden auxilio por redes sociales con vídeos y mensajes angustiosos". El País (in Spanish). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  37. ^ Cobb, Haydn (30 October 2024). "MotoGP "committed" on Valencia GP but focus on flooding support effort". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  38. ^ "Valencia Update". The Official Home of Formula E. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  39. ^ Gougis, Michael (30 October 2024). "MotoGP: Valencia Facility Damaged In Deadly Floods". Roadracing World Magazine. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  40. ^ Mackley, Stefan (1 November 2024). "Formula E moves pre-season test to Jarama after Valencia flooding". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  41. ^ "Formula E statement following devastating floods in Valencia". Formula E. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  42. ^ Golding, Nick (31 October 2024). "Formula E makes vital switch after deadly Spanish flash floods". RacingNews365. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  43. ^ "Spain declares three days of mourning after at least 95 people killed in flash flooding disaster". ABC News. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  44. ^ "Aplazados el Parla Escuela – Valencia, el Pontevedra – Levante y el Ejea – Hércules de Copa" [The cup games of Parla Escuela – Valencia, Pontevedra – Levante and Ejea – Hércules have been postponed]. Marca (in Spanish). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  45. ^ Valle, Conrado (31 October 2024). "Oficial: el Valencia-Real Madrid, aplazado por la DANA" [Valencia-Real Madrid, moved due to DANA]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  46. ^ @generalitat (31 October 2024). "La Generalitat coordina amb les companyies energètiques els treballs per al restabliment del subministrament Municipis afectats per la #DANA La xarxa elèctrica està greument danyada Talls de subministrament de gas per a garantir la seguretat @GVAinicotur" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  47. ^ "Spain floods death toll rises to 158 as rescuers comb for survivors". BBC News. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  48. ^ El Rey Felipe VI: «Lo principal es expresar el pésame y la tristeza por tantas pérdidas de vidas humanas» (in Spanish)
  49. ^ El rey se reúne por videconferencia con la UME en las zonas afectadas por la dana (in Spanish)
  50. ^ Romero, Patricia (30 October 2024). "El Gobierno decreta luto oficial y declarará la zona como «altamente afectada por fenómeno natural»" [The government declares official mourning period and will declare the zone as "highly affected by a natural phenomena"]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  51. ^ Cabanillas, Ana (31 October 2024). "Compromís carga contra Mazón y le acusa de "rehuir responsabilidades": "Hubo muertes por la dana y por la gestión"". El Periódico (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  52. ^ Riveiro, Aitor (31 October 2024). "Feijóo sale en defensa de Mazón y cuestiona las previsiones de la AEMET sobre la DANA". elDiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  53. ^ Fraguas, Toño (31 October 2024). "Los datos de la AEMET desmienten a Feijóo: la primera alerta se difundió a las 7.36 del martes". elDiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  54. ^ Niranjan, Ajit (30 October 2024). "Spain's deadly floods and droughts are two faces of the climate crisis coin". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  55. ^ "Analysis: Valencia floods fueled by ocean warming in the Tropical Atlantic linked to climate change". Climate Central. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
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