Spain on its knees due to unprecedented flooding: 72 victims and devastating damage.

A natural event of catastrophic proportions has hit Spain, particularly the region of Valencia, where unprecedented floods have caused at least 72 deaths and left an unknown number of people missing. In just eight hours, the region received an amount of rain equivalent to an entire year's worth. The tragedy has prompted the Spanish government to declare three days of national mourning and to launch an appeal to the population, asking them to avoid travel in order to avoid exposing themselves to further risks. The gravity of the situation has also mobilized the European Union and several European leaders, who have expressed their solidarity and offered support to the Iberian country.

Valencia and Andalusia: the epicenter of the tragedy

The region of Valencia has been hit hard, with its towns and cities brought to their knees by the fury of the water. Infrastructure and many homes have been completely destroyed, and there has been enormous damage to roads and services. In Jerez de la Frontera and Seville, flooded streets and accidents caused by heavy rains have prompted local authorities to urge residents to stay in their homes. Meanwhile, in Valencia, there have been episodes of panic in supermarkets, where the population has rushed to stock up on water and food, fearing a prolonged isolation.

Crisis management and controversies

The governor of the Valencian Community, Carlos Mazón, is at the center of a controversy over his handling of the weather alert. Although the national meteorological agency issued a red alert in the early hours of the morning, urgent communications to citizens only arrived in the evening, when the situation was already out of control. To further complicate matters, Mazón had previously eliminated the Valencian emergency unit, a decision that is now the subject of harsh criticism. In response to the crisis, nine forensic teams were mobilized in Valencia to identify victims and respond to the growing humanitarian crisis.

Solidarity from Europe: European Union and international leaders stand in support of Spain

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, offered assistance by activating the Copernicus satellite system for monitoring and managing the emergency. Germany also expressed solidarity through Chancellor Olaf Scholz, while messages of closeness arrived from Italy's institutional leaders, including President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

A devastating climate phenomenon

According to experts, the atmospheric phenomenon that hit Spain is a “closed depression” with cold air isolated at high altitude, similar to the one that recently affected northern Italy. This type of meteorological configuration is known to generate stationary and destructive rains, often called “cold drops”. Climate physicist Antonello Pasini explained that global warming has probably aggravated the intensity of the event, which has reached levels never seen in the last hundred years. Valencia recorded an accumulation of more than 445 mm of rain in less than eight hours, marking a historical record.

The Spanish Government: Emergency and Reconstruction Actions

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez chaired a crisis committee to coordinate relief efforts and reiterated the government's commitment to providing immediate assistance to the affected areas. Local authorities reported that some 155.000 homes were without electricity, with many motorists still missing and extensive damage to telecommunications networks. The prime minister stressed the importance of keeping the population safe, urging citizens not to travel to the most affected areas.

In Utiel, a municipality near Valencia, Mayor Ricardo Gabaldon described the devastation as “unique in history,” with water reaching levels of up to three meters, sweeping away vehicles and garbage containers and trapping people in their homes.

The Armed Forces and Civil Society Response

More than a thousand soldiers from the Military Emergency Unit (UME) have been mobilized to participate in the rescue operations. Defense Minister Margarita Robles highlighted the exceptional scale of the event, calling it “an unprecedented phenomenon.” Around 250 soldiers are already active in the field with dog teams to speed up the search, and the government has assured that resources will be available for as long as necessary.

Reflections on the urgency of fighting climate change

The flood that hit Spain is yet another event that demonstrates the increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in Europe. According to climatologists, the situation highlights the urgency of addressing climate change with incisive interventions both in terms of reducing emissions and adapting infrastructure.

The Nation in Mourning

As a sign of respect for the victims, the Congress and the Senate in Madrid observed a minute of silence, uniting all political forces in support of the families and friends of those affected.