from catastrophic floods

On October 29, 2024, an intense storm caused the province of Valencia to suffer one of the most devastating floods in recent history. Extreme rainfall was unleashed within just a few hours. In some areas, water rose to 15.4 meters (50 feet), generating 800,000 tons of debris. The strength of the storm and level of destruction is largely due to rising temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea and coastal urbanization that prevents water from seeping into soil. Though weather services had forecasted extreme rainfall, no red alert was issued for key areas until after it began. Carlos Mazón, the president of the regional government from the right-wing People’s Party, was absent from coordination efforts in critical early hours. Reports indicate he was having lunch at a restaurant until approximately 6:00 p.m., as flooding intensified and emergency services became overwhelmed. The catastrophe caused the deaths of 223 people and left 15,000 displaced. A week after the flood, 130,000 people marched in protest to demand Mazón’s resignation.

Aleix Pons Oliver in Algemesi, Valencia