Valencia, Spain – The southeast of Spain has been ravaged by intense storms, with at least 95 confirmed fatalities and dozens more missing following severe flooding across Valencia and surrounding regions.
The Spanish Interior Ministry’s crisis centre confirmed the rising death toll on Wednesday morning, as emergency services continue to struggle with limited access to affected areas. The deluge began early this week, with rainfall exceeding 20 centimetres in some areas, as well as reports of hailstones the size of golf balls. The Spanish meteorological agency, AEMET, has issued a red alert in the provinces of Valencia and Málaga.
Fatalities and Stranded Residents
The extreme weather has caused widespread disruption, with numerous residents in Valencia, Málaga, and other regions left stranded on highways, rooftops, and trees. Emergency teams have deployed helicopters to aid in rescue operations, but many areas remain difficult to reach. Videos circulating on social media reveal harrowing scenes: cars swept away by powerful floodwaters, and people clinging to branches for safety as the torrent rushes past. In Málaga’s town of Alora, vehicles were dragged by the force of the floods, adding to the region’s already dire situation.
The worst-hit areas have been particularly inaccessible, prompting radio and television stations to receive hundreds of calls from residents stranded in flooded areas or searching for loved ones. Spanish emergency services have asked the public to avoid all non-essential travel, while many roads in the region remain closed, further complicating relief efforts.
A Nation Mobilises
In response to the escalating crisis, Spain has deployed additional rescue resources, including military units, to support overstretched emergency services. Rescue helicopters from neighbouring regions have been dispatched to Valencia, as well as Murcia, where authorities have temporarily suspended regional government activities.
Fernando López Miras, the President of Murcia, expressed condolences to those affected, describing the events as a “dark day” for the nation. Solidarity gestures extended to the Catalonia region, where the parliament observed a minute of silence for the victims.
The impact of the floods has disrupted local governance and public services in Valencia. The Generalitat Valenciana has allowed public employees affected by the floods to remain home, and the courts in Torrent, Quart de Poblet, and Moncada remain closed, except for essential services.
Dana Storm System Brings Widespread Chaos
The weather system, known locally as Dana, or Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos (Isolated Depression at High Altitude), has generated intense, sustained rains across eastern Spain. The phenomenon, known for its unpredictable and powerful downpours, has transformed streets into rivers, impassable even for emergency vehicles. This weather event prompted the Spanish government to establish a crisis committee, led by First Vice-President María Jesús Montero, to monitor developments closely and coordinate the national response.
The Dana storm also extended its reach to the Balearic Islands, where floodwaters endangered lives on Mallorca. Emergency teams were able to save a man trapped in his car and others from a parked caravan in danger of being swept away by the fast-moving waters.
Transport and Public Safety Warnings
Severe flooding has led to significant road closures across Valencia, Málaga, and beyond. The Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) has listed multiple roadblocks, advising the public to stay off affected roads wherever possible.
Major routes, including the A-3 and A-7, remain impassable in the Valencia region, alongside closures across the secondary network in Granada and Teruel. This has posed significant challenges for rescue teams, who report delays reaching areas where residents are in urgent need.
In Valencia, travel is restricted on the A-3 between Chiva and Mislata, the A-7 from Torrent to La Alcudia, and additional closures on the V-30 and V-31. Authorities continue to issue warnings for residents to stay indoors where possible, as travel remains hazardous across the region. In Castilla-La Mancha, road closures include the CM-2109 and CM-3135, with reports of additional blocks in Granada on the A-4200 and GR-9109.
Ongoing Search and Rescue Operations
The widespread damage has prompted both regional and national responses, with Spain’s government coordinating with local authorities to expedite rescue and recovery efforts. Emergency services are focusing on accessible areas first, prioritising those stranded by floodwaters in Valencia and Málaga. Helicopters, boats, and other resources are deployed across the affected regions as authorities strive to prevent further casualties.
With unpredictable weather expected to persist in the coming days, officials are urging residents to prioritise their safety and avoid unnecessary travel.
Update: Spanish Flood Death Toll Approaches 100; Three Days of National Mourning Declared
The death toll from catastrophic flooding in Spain has reached nearly 100, as officials declared three days of national mourning. As of Wednesday evening, 95 fatalities have been confirmed across the eastern and southern regions of the country, making this disaster one of the deadliest floods in Spain in recent decades. The majority of the deaths occurred in Valencia, with additional casualties in Málaga and Castilla-La Mancha.
Spain’s Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, announced the period of mourning and pledged comprehensive support to affected areas from national and European funds. Efforts to provide immediate aid have ramped up, with 115,000 people still facing power outages, and critical infrastructure, including the railway line between Madrid and Valencia, remains closed.
Reports indicate that several Valencia residents were forced to spend the night stranded on vehicle rooftops and other elevated structures as floodwaters rose rapidly.
In response to the scale of the tragedy, the Spanish Ministry of Defence has offered mobile morgues to support the affected regions, acknowledging concerns that the number of casualties may continue to increase.
The European Union has expressed its readiness to assist Spain. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has indicated that the EU is prepared to respond as soon as a formal request is received.
The disaster began on 29 October with heavy rains triggering flash floods that continue to impact communities across eastern Spain.
