A Family’s Heartbreak Amid Valencia’s Tragedy
As storm clouds loomed over Valencia, Victor Matías prioritized safety for his children. On that fateful day, he left work early to pick up his boys, Izan and Rubén, from nursery and prepared their favorite meal—croquetas. This evening ritual turned into a nightmare that would forever alter the lives of the Matías family.
The tragic events unfolded rapidly as heavy rain transformed the region into a scene of devastation. The resulting flash floods claimed at least 219 lives, with more than 90 individuals still unaccounted for. The story of the Matías family has struck a chord across Spain, resonating with many who are grappling with similar losses in the wake of this disaster.
The Sequence of Events
In a few days following the floods, we visited the Matías family home, which lay in ruins amidst wreckage. The sheer force of nature was illustrated by the year’s worth of rain that fell within mere hours.
Amidst collapsed furniture and scattered debris, one poignant reminder remained intact: the door to Izan and Rubén’s bedroom, adorned with their names. A neighbor, Jonathan Perez, recounted harrowing details of that evening. He described how torrents of water swept away nearby trucks which crashed into houses, including the Matías residence.
Victor recounted how he desperately clutched his sons as water surged around them. Despite his efforts, he lost grip on Izan and Rubén as they were pulled into the chaos.
After several agonizing hours, Victor was discovered clinging to a tree—over 200 meters from where he last saw his children.
Community Response and Ongoing Search
The aftermath left families in La Curra devastated. Neighbors mobilized to search for Izan and Rubén once it was safe enough to venture out. The local police quickly joined their efforts along with firefighters from Mallorca and volunteers from Ibiza, all working tirelessly in hopes of finding the boys among debris scattered for miles.
Tragically, these searches yielded no results even after nearly two weeks of relentless effort. Meanwhile, Marta Matías faced an unbearable reality; she learned her sons were missing while she was at work. Relatives describe her emotional turmoil as incomprehensible.
As Victor recuperates in hospital, he clings to remnants of his children’s presence—sleeping with their blankets salvaged from the wreckage, holding onto memories amid overwhelming grief.
The heartbreak felt by the Matías family is emblematic of a larger tragedy that has gripped Valencia—a community now united in mourning but also fueled by anger at insufficient emergency responses during critical moments leading up to this disaster.
In light of these events, many are calling for better preparedness and earlier warnings to prevent such profound loss in the future.