Catastrophic floods in the Spanish regions of Valencia and Castilla-La Mancha have left at least 72 people dead, with a high number missing and extensive damage. The storm, which brought extreme weather conditions, is now also threatening the province of Barcelona. The Spanish government has declared three days of national mourning, while the Minister of Territorial Policies, Ángel Víctor Torres, has said that official figures on the missing cannot yet be provided due to the severity of the situation.

Rescue operations continue, but have been hampered by damaged power lines and impassable roads. To facilitate the search for missing people, a dedicated telephone number has been activated in the Valencian Community. The heavy rains were generated by an atmospheric depression known as Dana, which has led to heavy rainfall in the last 48 hours.

This meteorological phenomenon is not isolated and is reminiscent of the recent floods that hit northern Italy. Gianni Messeri, meteorologist for the Lamma Consortium, explained the dangerous nature of the closed depression that moves slowly and continues to hit the same areas. The damage is not limited to the Valencia area; Jerez de la Frontera saw a devastating waterspout in just a few minutes.

Local authorities are gathering information about the victims and the damage. A resident of Algemesí described the horror she experienced during the flood, saying that the water entered the homes like a waterfall. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed solidarity with Spain and the families of the victims.

Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit has suffered significant damage to its access and parking areas but the track is in good condition; however, repairs will be needed before the final MotoGP race scheduled for November. Exceptional rainfall has led to record accumulations in some locations, exceeding 300 litres per square metre.

King Felipe VI expressed his sorrow at the tragedy and thanked emergency services for their efforts. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stressed the importance of the search for the missing and promised assistance in rebuilding the affected areas. European leaders also offered support, acknowledging the link between extreme weather events and climate change.

While remaining focused on the current emergency, authorities are mobilizing significant resources to address the ongoing crisis and provide assistance to those in need.