The storm that has hit the Valencian Community with force has left a tragic toll of 95 dead, being Paiporta one of the most affected municipalities, with 40 victims, six of them in an old people’s home. The torrential rains have caused massive flooding and chaos in several towns, leaving an undetermined number of people missing while emergency teams continue their search.
Floods and service chaos
The storm has caused massive cuts in electricity and water supplies, affecting more than 100,000 people in the province of Valencia, while main roads remain blocked, and rail connections with Madrid and other regions have been suspended.Technical teams are working to restore services as conditions permit, but heavy rains are hampering efforts. The situation is critical in many municipalities, where streets have become rivers, dragging vehicles and causing damage to homes and buildings. In towns such as Paiporta and Picaña, neighbors report dramatic scenes, where people have been forced to take refuge on rooftops or in vehicles to save their lives.
Rescue teams overwhelmed
The rescue work continues without a break. One thousand members of the Military Emergency Unit (UME) have been deployed in the area to collaborate in the search for missing persons and to provide assistance to those affected. The Multiple Victims Procedure has been activated, which involves the mobilization of specialized rescue teams and the coordination between security and emergency bodies to speed up the identification of the victims. The President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón, has asked citizens to stay in their homes to facilitate the work of rescue teams, while the telephone number 900 365 112 was enabled to report missing persons in case of not being able to contact relatives or acquaintances.
Shifting of the storm to other regions
Although the intensity of the rains has decreased in Valencia, the DANA is now moving towards Andalusia and the northeast of the country, where the authorities maintain the alerts activated. In Castellón, the situation is still worrying, and the population has been asked to avoid traveling due to the risk of new floods. Meanwhile, the normalization of rail services is expected to be complex. The Ministry of Transport has warned that damage to the high-speed network between Madrid and Valencia will keep the service suspended for at least four days. In addition, economic losses are beginning to accumulate in key sectors such as freight transport and agriculture, where the rains have caused significant damage to crops.
Three days of official mourning
The government has decreed three days of official mourning in memory of the victims, while local and regional authorities are working to coordinate aid to those affected. Rescue work continues in a complicated environment, with teams still trying to access isolated areas. The tragedy marks an unprecedented episode in the recent history of the Valencian Community, and the authorities warn that the final tally of damages and losses may be extended over the next few days.
