In one of Spain’s deadliest natural disasters in recent times, flash floods struck the southeastern region of Valencia, claiming at least 63 lives.
The crisis erupted on Tuesday, October 29, following intense rainstorms that led to unprecedented rainfall. Within hours, village streets turned into rivers, and cars and infrastructure were reduced to paper toys.
The death toll from the floods, initially estimated at 51, quickly rose to 63 as emergency services in Valencia continued search and rescue efforts. Most of the fatalities occurred in Valencia, with one death reported in Castilla-La Mancha, where an 88-year-old woman was found in Cuenca province.
Chiva, near Valencia, received over 19 inches of rainfall in just eight hours—an amount usually seen over an entire year.
Spain’s weather agency, AEMET, declared a red alert for the Valencia area, warning residents to stay indoors and avoid non-essential travel.
The devastation extended to Spain’s railway infrastructure. RENFE, the national rail operator, suspended all train services in the Valencia region, including high-speed routes between Valencia and Madrid, after a train carrying nearly 300 passengers derailed near Málaga due to a landslide.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported. With streets, bridges, and highways destroyed, rescuers struggled to reach stranded residents, resorting to helicopter rescues in areas with impassable roads.
“For those who are looking for their loved ones, all of Spain feels your pain,” he said in a televised speech. Sanchez assured residents that “all necessary resources” would be deployed to aid recovery efforts and rebuild devastated communities, noting, “Together, we will rebuild your streets, your squares, your bridges.”
King Felipe VI also reacted to the disaster, describing it as a “devastating loss.” Speaking from Gando Air Base in Gran Canaria, the monarch conveyed his condolences to the families affected and expressed gratitude for the “all available resources” mobilized by emergency services.
Felipe said he communicated with regional leaders and Spain’s interior minister to stay updated on the rescue efforts and assess ongoing needs.
Local officials have described the situation in vivid detail. Ricardo Gabaldón, the mayor of Utiel, one of the hardest-hit areas, shared that his town was “trapped like rats” as floodwaters rose to nearly three meters. “Cars and trash containers were flowing down the streets,” Gabaldón said, adding that several residents in Utiel remain missing.
International and European Union Support
The European Union and neighboring countries quickly offered support. Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz conveyed deep sorrow, and his spokesperson, Steffen Hebestreit, stated, “We are in direct contact with the Spanish government to see if support from Germany is needed for this terrible disaster.” In a statement, Hebestreit added that the German government was “deeply shocked” by the scale of the devastation.
Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro also expressed “solidarity with all the Spanish people” and offered “all necessary help” via a message on X (formerly Twitter). European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen activated the EU’s Copernicus satellite system to aid rescue efforts and noted that Brussels stood “ready to help” Spain through its civil protection mechanism. “What we are seeing is devastating,” von der Leyen said.
Due to the ongoing crisis, a Copa del Rey match between Valencia and Parla Escuela, initially scheduled for Wednesday in Parla, has been postponed to November 6. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is also working closely with affected clubs to determine the fate of other upcoming matches, including Valencia’s La Liga home game against Real Madrid at Mestalla Stadium, scheduled for Saturday.
The Spanish government has mobilized over 1,000 soldiers from emergency response units to assist in the affected areas, where rescue operations continue around the clock.
Meanwhile, Spain’s national weather service had warned of potential storms through Thursday, as the death toll is expected to rise further in what had become one of Europe’s most devastating floods since 2021 when 185 people perished in Germany and Belgium.
