Deadly Floods Strike Spain
Over 150 people have died following severe flooding in eastern and southern Spain. The worst hit was eastern Valencia, which endured a historic 'cold drop,' or when autumnal cold air from the north moves over the warm water of the Mediterranean....
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Facts
- Over 150 people have died following severe flooding in eastern and southern Spain. The worst hit was eastern Valencia, which endured a historic 'cold drop,' or when autumnal cold air from the north moves over the warm water of the Mediterranean.[1][2]
- It was reportedly the country's worst natural disaster in decades, with areas like Barrio de la Torre experiencing a year's worth of rainfall in eight hours, cars stacked on top of each other, trees uprooted, downed powerlines, and damaged infrastructure.[3][4]
- Other disruptions included suspended high-speed train lines between Valencia and Madrid, indefinite closures of other train services, over 150K people without power (with services being restored), and multiple road closures.[5][3]
- Thousands of residents were trapped inside their vehicles or homes, some of which were totally destroyed or flooded. The agricultural sector of the region has also suffered severe damage.[2][6]
- While 1K members of the Military Emergency Unit and thousands of first responders and Civil Guards were deployed to search and rescue, the Valencia government announced a €250M ($270M) aid plan, including €6K ($6,510) to each victim and transportation and housing subsidies.[7]
- Residents are beginning the clean-up and recovery process. While authorities haven't disclosed the number of missing people, helicopters are being used to check vehicles for bodies.[8]
Sources: [1]The Telegraph, [2]New York Times, [3]New York Post, [4]CBS, [5]Europeanconservative, [6]Agriland, [7]EL PAÍS English and [8]Reuters.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by South China Morning Post. Despite weather reports warning of immediate danger, many people didn't receive emergency alerts until they were trapped in their cars and homes. There needs to be an investigation as to whether the government could have issued alerts earlier, closed down public services, and canceled classes. A probe of early warning protocols is warranted.
- Narrative B, as provided by Euronews. While criticism of the local government is understandable, it's important to recognize how unprecedentedly fast this storm appeared. Thanks to climate change, the 'cold drop' phenomenon was exacerbated by the warming ocean temperatures, which allowed for such an unusual amount of rainfall in just eight hours. These storms will continue until climate change is addressed.
- Narrative C, as provided by Irrationalfear. This was the result of ignored infrastructure needs and poor urban planning, not climate change. Following a flood in 1957, Valencia took profound action by diverting the Turia River to prevent future flooding. Sadly, it then allowed unchecked development in flood-prone zones, resulting in tragedies like this. Valencia has dealt with flooding for centuries, so blaming climate change will do nothing but let politicians off the hook for their dismal mismanagement.
