Madrid : Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has pledged full government support in the wake of catastrophic floods that have claimed at least 64 lives in eastern and southeastern Spain. The floods, triggered by the heaviest rainfall in over five decades, have left dozens of individuals unaccounted for, particularly in the provinces of Valencia, Albacete, and Cuenca.
Local reports indicate that the region experienced exceptionally heavy rainfall, totaling around 445 liters per square meter, within just a few hours from Tuesday night to early Wednesday morning. This downpour, described as the heaviest since September 1966, caused widespread flooding, inundating streets, sweeping away vehicles, bursting riverbanks, and submerging a bridge over the River Magro.
The floods have disrupted transportation significantly, with at least 50 roads, including major highways A3 and A7, cut off. Rail services between Madrid and Valencia have also been suspended, according to the Xinhua news agency.
In response to the disaster, Prime Minister Sanchez convened an emergency cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning. He made a formal declaration at midday, assuring families affected by the floods of the government’s unwavering support. “Our absolute priority is to help you,” he stated, emphasizing that public administrations are coordinating all available resources and efforts to assist victims in rebuilding their homes and lives as swiftly as possible.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union (EU) has activated the Copernicus satellite system to aid in rescue efforts, while European Council President Charles Michel confirmed that the EU stands ready to provide additional assistance.
Approximately 1,000 members of the Spanish Military’s Emergency Response Unit (UME) have been deployed to the affected areas. Pilar Bernabe, the Spanish government delegate for Valencia, urged citizens to avoid dangerous roads in Valencia and the neighboring province of Castellon, stating, “There are still people trapped, and we need to support the emergency services.”
Meteorologists have attributed the torrential rains to a phenomenon known as “isolated high-altitude depression,” or DANA in Spanish. This occurs when a cold air front crosses over the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea. While such weather patterns typically result in localized impacts, they have historically caused significant destruction, as seen in 1966 and 1957 when the River Turia overflowed, devastating Valencia.
As weather conditions are expected to improve in southeastern Spain, authorities in the northeastern region of Catalonia have issued an “extreme weather” warning, citing the risk of further flash floods.