Four dead after flooding in eastern Spain
Torrential rain caused floods that killed four people and forced evacuations in Valencia and surrounding areas.
Key facts
- At least four people died in floods caused by torrential rain in eastern Spain.
- Victims were a 79‑year‑old woman in Oliva, a man who had a heart attack at a campsite in Oliva, a man who drowned in Sagunto, and a woman who fell into a rain‑swollen stream in Catalonia.
- Emergency services rescued more than 450 people, including airlifts from rooftops and boats.
- Authorities imposed emergency restrictions on about 100 municipalities, later lifted.
- Military emergency teams assisted rescue efforts, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pledged full government support.
Torrential rain battered eastern Spain on Monday, with some areas receiving up to 700 litres of rain per square metre in 24 hours, according to the national weather agency AEMET.
The heavy downpour flooded streets, swept away parked cars, and cut off residents in the Valencia region.
Four people died in the floods: a 79‑year‑old woman found in her home in Oliva, a man who suffered a heart attack at a campsite in Oliva, a man who drowned while swimming at a beach in Sagunto, and a woman who fell into a rain‑swollen stream in Catalonia.
Emergency crews carried out more than 400 rescues in Valencia, using both air and land resources, and rescued more than 450 people overall, including those airlifted from rooftops and flooded buildings.
Authorities imposed emergency restrictions on about 100 municipalities, asking people to stay indoors; most restrictions were lifted by early afternoon as conditions improved.
Members of Spain's military emergency unit assisted rescue and evacuation efforts, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on X that the government would provide full support and necessary personnel and resources.
Context
The floods were triggered by torrential rain that dumped up to 700 litres per square metre in some areas of the Valencia region. Scientists say human‑driven climate change is intensifying Mediterranean storms that typically hit eastern Spain in autumn, as the sea absorbs heat during the summer, leading to heavier rainfall. The last month was mainland Spain's hottest September on record, according to AEMET.
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