By : Lloyd Mahachi
Spain is reeling from its worst flooding disaster in decades, with at least 95 people dead and dozens more missing. Torrential rains swept through the eastern province of Valencia and beyond, triggering flash floods that destroyed bridges and buildings, and forced people to seek refuge on rooftops or cling to trees.
The flooding is Spain’s deadliest since 1973, when at least 150 people died in the nation’s worst-ever floods. Valencia has borne the brunt of the disaster, with 92 deaths recorded, while Castilla-La Mancha and Málaga have reported additional fatalities. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has declared three days of national mourning as the extreme weather conditions continue to hinder rescue efforts.
Residents described the floods as “like a tsunami,” with sudden surges turning streets into rivers and catching motorists off guard. Survivors recounted harrowing experiences, including forming human chains to escape raging waters. Guillermo Serrano Pérez, 21, from Paiporta near Valencia, said the water had rushed down a highway “like a tsunami,” forcing him and his parents to abandon their car and climb onto a bridge to survive.
The Spanish army and emergency crews are working tirelessly to carry out rescues, with over 1,000 troops deployed. However, many areas remain inaccessible due to flooded roads and downed communication lines. The European Union has activated its Copernicus satellite system to aid Spanish rescue teams, while neighboring countries have offered reinforcements.
There are widespread accusations that disaster relief authorities were too slow to issue warnings, leaving people vulnerable. Valencia’s regional government is facing criticism for scrapping the Valencia Emergency Unit, established to tackle natural disasters. The civil protection agency has also been questioned for delaying alerts, with the first warning issued at 20:15 local time on Tuesday, hours after flooding had begun.
Scientists attribute the intensity of the rainfall to climate change, which has led to increased moisture in the atmosphere. Dr. Friederike Otto from Imperial College London noted, “With every fraction of a degree of fossil fuel warming, the atmosphere can hold more moisture, leading to heavier bursts of rainfall… No doubt about it, these explosive downpours were intensified by climate change.”
As Spain struggles to cope with the disaster, the world watches, reminded of the devastating impact of climate change. The country’s Defence Minister Margarita Robles described the flooding as “an unprecedented phenomenon.” Weather warnings have been issued across several parts of Spain, urging people to take shelter and brace for further flooding.
The region of Valencia received a year’s worth of rainfall in just eight hours, according to national weather agency Aemet. The downpour eased in the country’s central-east on Wednesday, but weather officials warned the rains were moving north-east to the Catalonia region.
Spain’s government has pledged support to affected communities, with Prime Minister Sánchez assuring victims, “The whole of Spain weeps with you… we won’t abandon you.” As the nation mourns, concerns about climate change and disaster preparedness come to the forefront.
Editor : Josephine Mahachi
