Several bodies have been found after parts of southern and eastern Spain were hit by severe flash flooding on Tuesday, with some locations receiving up to 12 inches of rain in just a few hours. The country has been badly hit by heavy rain and hailstorms, triggering rapid flooding across multiple regions. Rescue efforts are under way and the president of the Valencia region, Carlós Mazón, said it was “impossible” to put an exact number on the final death toll at this stage.
Footage from the city of Valencia showed mud-colored water flooding through the streets, tearing down walls, and sweeping away parked cars. Footage uploaded to social media shows floodwaters causing chaos, knocking down bridges and dragging cars through the streets. Other video appeared to show people clinging to trees to avoid being swept away.
Valencia’s regional leader Carlos Mazon told reporters early Wednesday that some bodies were found as rescue teams began to reach areas previously cut off by the floods. “Unfortunately, we can confirm that some bodies have already been found, but out of respect for the families we are not going to give any more details,” Mazon said. The leader of the eastern Valencia region told reporters early on Wednesday that several dead bodies had been found in flood-affected areas, without specifying how many. “Dead bodies have been found, but out of respect for the families, we are not going to provide any further data,” Carlos Mazon said.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said an unspecified number of people are missing due to the flooding, and asked citizens to act with “great caution” and avoid moving around if it is not necessary. “I am closely following with concern the reports on missing persons and the damage caused by the storm in recent hours,” prime minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on X, urging people to follow the advice of the authorities. “Be very careful and avoid unnecessary trips,” he added.
The Spanish government set up a crisis committee on Tuesday, according to the Palace of La Moncloa. It will be chaired by Sánchez and, from Wednesday, will coordinate the work of the Civil Guard, the National Police, the General Directorate of Civil Protection, and the Military Emergency Unit. Emergency services workers backed by drones were looking for six people who were missing in the wake of flash floods in the town, the central government’s representative in Castilla-La Mancha told Spanish public television TVE. “The priority is to find these people,” she added.
The Impact of the Floods
The floods have caused widespread disruption, with roads closed, train services suspended, and schools and sporting events cancelled. Rescue services are working to reach those affected and provide assistance. Radio and TV stations have reportedly been receiving hundreds of calls for help from people trapped in flooded areas or searching for loved ones, as emergency services struggle to reach some areas. Emergency services workers are using drones to search for the missing in the badly affected municipality of Letur, local official Milagros Tolon told Spanish public television station TVE. “The priority is to find these people,” she said.
Transport Disruption
The floods have caused significant transport disruption, with several flights due to land in Valencia diverted to other cities and others cancelled. Twelve flights that were due to land at Valencia airport have been diverted to other cities in Spain due to the heavy rain and strong winds, Spanish airport operator Aena said. Another 10 flights that were due to depart or arrive at the airport were cancelled. All train services are suspended in the Valencia region, the national rail infrastructure operator ADIF said. National rail infrastructure operator ADIF said it had suspended high-speed trains between Madrid and the eastern port of Valencia due to the effects of the storm on main points of the rail network in the Valencia region. A high-speed train with 276 passengers derailed in the southern region of Andalusia, although no one was injured, the regional government said in a statement.
The Cause of the Floods
The intense rain has been attributed to a phenomenon known as the gota fría, or “cold drop”, which occurs when cold air moves over the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This creates atmospheric instability, causing warm, saturated air to rise rapidly, leading to the formation of towering cumulonimbus clouds in a matter of hours and dumping heavy rain across eastern parts of Spain. A strong upper level low pressure is moving northward into the region from Africa. The strong system is bringing a significant amount of atmospheric instability to the region. Extreme amounts of rainfall are also being enhanced with moisture from the Mediterranean Sea and upslope flow into higher terrain which acts to squeeze out additional moisture.
The Threat of Climate Change
Scientists warn that extreme weather such as heatwaves and storms is becoming more intense as a result of the climate crisis. The country has recovered somewhat from a severe drought this year thanks to rainfall. Scientists say that increased episodes of extreme weather are probably linked to climate change.
A Call for Caution
Rainfall warnings continue through Wednesday for portions of eastern and southern Spain, according to AEMET. The warnings north of Valencia are for rainfall totals in excess of 100 mm (4 inches) and rainfall rates of 30 mm per hour (1.18 inches per hour). Areas of southwestern Spain will see the threat of heavy rain continue through the end of the week. State weather agency AEMET declared a red alert in the Valencia region and the second-highest level of alert in parts of Andalusia. Several roads were shut in both regions due to flooding. Valencia city hall said all schools and sporting events are suspended on Wednesday, and parks will stay closed. Emergency services rescued scores of people in Álora in Andalusia, some by helicopter, after a river overflowed. Local media reported that dozens of people in Valencia spent the night stranded in trucks or cars, as well as on rooftops and bridges, waiting to be rescued.
Looking Ahead
The authorities are urging people to stay safe and follow the latest advice. As rescue efforts continue, the full extent of the damage and the number of casualties is still being determined. This story has been updated with additional information.
This article has been updated to include information from various sources. This includes the BBC, The Guardian, CNN, Reuters, and the European Severe Weather Database.
