Severe storms in Spain have led to at least 215 fatalities, primarily affecting the Valencia region, while reports of up to 2,000 missing persons emerge. The weather phenomenon “Cold Drop” continues to impact coastal areas, prompting a red alert in Almería. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia recently visited the affected regions, facing protests over the government’s response. Rescue operations are ongoing, with over 3,600 military personnel deployed to assist. Historical flooding events highlight the severity of this disaster.
What Happened: Following devastating storms across much of Spain, the death toll has risen to at least 215. This was reported by the news agency Europapress, citing the regional government in Valencia, which was particularly severely affected. There have also been casualties in the regions of Andalusia and Castilla-La Mancha. Additionally, many individuals are still reported missing—exact figures are not officially available, but some Spanish media sources suggest the number could be as high as 2,000.
Current Conditions in the Regions: The weather phenomenon known as “Cold Drop” continues to linger over Spain’s Mediterranean coast. The national weather service Aemet initially issued a red alert until Sunday evening for parts of the province of Almería in southern Spain. Authorities have urged residents to remain at home as much as possible.
The orange alert, the second highest level, was also in effect in parts of the Valencia region, particularly in the northern province of Castellón, where heavy rain was expected. On Tuesday, when Aemet reported that some of the worst storms of the century battered the Valencia area, a red alert was in effect. To date, 210 bodies have been recovered in this region alone.
Spanish Royal Family Visits Affected Areas: King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain have visited the disaster-struck area surrounding the Mediterranean metropolis of Valencia. The royal household did not disclose the exact itinerary or route. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on social media that he would accompany the royal couple on their visit.
According to the BBC, the Spanish royal couple encountered angry protesters upon their arrival. Footage from the British broadcaster captured crowds shouting “Murderer” and “Shame” at the king, questioning why no preventative measures had been taken to avert the tragedy.
Rescue Operations: Recovery efforts continue on the fifth day following the catastrophe. The search is particularly challenging in tunnels and flooded underground garages, where the water level reaches up to the chest of rescuers, as seen in videos from the scene. Sánchez announced on Saturday plans to deploy an additional 5,000 soldiers and 5,000 police officers to the area. As of Saturday evening, over 3,600 members of the military were involved in operations in towns near Valencia, as reported by the Spanish central government in Madrid.
Isolated Villages Organizing Self-Help: Thanks in part to numerous volunteers, assistance has started to flow into the villages near Valencia, and much of the electricity supply has been restored. Thousands were organized into buses from Valencia to deliver aid to some of these villages. However, in some areas, such as Chiva, such assistance was reported to be unnecessary, as noted by the newspaper “ABC.”
Severe Natural Disasters in Recent Decades: Among Spain’s worst natural disasters in the past 75 years is the flooding in Biescas in the northern region of Aragon in 1996, which resulted in 87 fatalities following heavy rains that inundated a campsite in the Pyrenees. The flooding of the Turia River near Valencia in 1957 is also considered one of the most severe, with death toll estimates ranging between 80 and 100 people.