People caught off guard by deadly floods in Spain

(CLO) Flash flood warnings in Valencia, Spain came too late, even for those downstream who had time to prepare.

Adan Ortell Mor had a haircut appointment at 7:30 p.m. on October 29 at his hair salon in La Torre, Valencia. But the customer called to cancel because of bad traffic, so he left the salon and went home. This saved his life.

When he got home, he saw reports of cars floating in floodwaters in an upstream town. “I thought to myself, ‘This is where the water is coming from,’” he said as he cleared mud from his home. “I thought it was coming. I rushed out onto the balcony, looked around, and the water was coming in. It was right at my front door.”

It was an hour later that the alert arrived on his mobile phone. A blaring alarm was sent to all residents of Valencia, warning them of heavy rain and urging them to stay home. But it was too late. Many were trapped in the rising floodwaters.

People clean up mud after flash floods in La Torre, in Valencia, Spain, October 31. Photo: AFP

It was the worst natural disaster in Valencia in decades. According to the Spanish meteorological agency, a year's worth of rain fell in less than eight hours.

Water rushed down rivers and tributaries toward the Mediterranean Sea, sweeping away cars and destroying bridges along the way. At least 205 people have died. Authorities warn the death toll could rise.

Spain's AEMET weather center in Valencia warned of heavy rainfall at 7:30 a.m. on October 29, raising the alert level to red in some areas, warning people to stay off the roads to guard against flooding.

By 10:30 a.m., firefighters in inland towns like Llombai were rescuing residents from flooding. AEMET warned residents to remain vigilant, even with little rainfall in their areas, as ravines and gullies were rapidly filling with water coming down from the mountains.

Valencia regional president Carlos Mazon said at noon that the storm was weakening, contradicting warnings from emergency services. The statement was posted by his office on X but has since been deleted.

By 5pm, Valencia emergency services had received hundreds of calls for help from across the region.

By 8 p.m., cellphones finally rang with warnings telling people to stay indoors. The warning came too late, even for those downstream who had time to prepare.

Politicians are blaming each other for not moving fast enough. But ultimately, it is residents like Valentín Manzaneque Fernández, 70, who are suffering. He is furious.

"The storm hit in the morning. But no one warned us until 8pm. No one cared," he said.

The impact of flooding in Utiel, Valencia, October 30. Photo: AP

The waters have receded, but recovery from the floods will take weeks or months. Valencia’s highways remain blocked, or only partially accessible. Many routes are blocked by washed-out vehicles. The tracks are so badly damaged that train service may not be restored for weeks.

Barber Mor did not wait for any help from the authorities. He cleaned up the rubble from his own home with his own broom and shovel. Neighbors joined in, while volunteers in waterproof boots carried buckets and carts filled with food and water.

He said he felt lucky even though his hair salon business was completely destroyed. "It's just stuff that's been destroyed. The most important thing is that my family is safe. We'll get through this, my family is fine," he said.

Hoai Phuong (according to CNN)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/canh-bao-qua-muon-nguoi-dan-khong-kip-tro-tay-truoc-con-lu-chet-nguoi-o-tay-ban-nha-post319645.html