Several roads in the east and southeast of the country have been closed to traffic, and rail traffic on several lines will also remain interrupted throughout the day. According to El Pais newspaper, 140,000 people have also been affected by power outages.
Witnesses and victims speak in local media about great panic and rescue workers who are short-handed to save everyone. According to the Spanish emergency services, at least 72 people have already been counted. In the heavily affected region of Valencia, there are 70 people, and in the area of Castilla-La Mancha, two people. There are great fears that the death toll will continue to rise in the coming hours because the rain has not stopped yet, and there is no clarity about the number of missing people.
DANA
Warnings for extreme rainfall, lightning and hail were issued for Spain on Monday and will remain in effect until Thursday. The heavy rain threatens to cause flooding in the southeast of Spain in the coming hours. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned of this in a televised address. “We must remain vigilant. Weather warnings are still in effect in Andalusia, Valencia, Aragon, Castilla y Leon, Extremadura, Navarra, La Rioja and Ceuta.”
The region is being hit by the weather phenomenon DANA, or Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos. The combination of a cold bubble at high altitudes with warm winds from the Mediterranean Sea leads to heavy storms, mainly in the autumn. According to the weather service Aemet, this is the most severe Dana of the 21st century.
According to the Spanish news agency EFE, this is the heaviest rainfall in the region since September 1966. In the past 24 hours, more than 445 litres per square meter fell. For comparison, when a water bomb hit the south of our country in 2021, 200 litres of water were lost in some places in 48 hours.
Due to the persistent storm, dozens of people were forced to spend the night in cars, on bridges or the roofs of shops and petrol stations. On an industrial estate in Ribarroja near Valencia, hundreds of workers were stuck for hours.
In addition to heavy rainfall, lightning, and flooding, a tornado was spotted in Valencia, which is exceptional in Spain.
Extreme weather has also hit the island of Mallorca. From the interior to the coast, the streets are flooded. Most of the rescue operations were carried out on Wednesday morning. The emergency services saved a man trapped in his car, which was being swept away by the water. Shortly afterwards, they came to the aid of people trapped in a parked caravan, which was also in danger of being swept away by the water.
Climate change
The Spanish government has set up a crisis committee, chaired by First Vice President María Jesús Montero, to monitor the situation. According to Angel Victor Torres, Minister of Territorial Policy, a period of national mourning will be observed from Thursday to Saturday. He also announced that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will visit the disaster area on Thursday.
Scientists say extreme weather events are becoming more common due to climate change. Meteorologists believe warming the Mediterranean Sea, which increases water evaporation, significantly makes torrential rains more severe.
“This is the dramatic reality of climate change,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday. “What we are seeing is heartbreaking. Entire villages were covered in mud; the raging water washed away people seeking refuge in trees and cars. Dozens of people have lost their lives, and thousands have had to leave their homes.”