Home / Disasters and Accidents / Hailstorm Devastates Spanish Fruit and Olive Farms, Causing Millions in Losses
Hailstorm Devastates Spanish Fruit and Olive Farms, Causing Millions in Losses
13 Oct
Summary
- Hailstorm hits farms in La Costera and La Safor regions of Valencia, Spain
- Estimated losses of up to €9 million ($10.5 million) for kaki, olive, citrus, and avocado crops
- Up to 90% of olive groves destroyed in some areas
In mid-September 2025, an unexpected hailstorm hit farms in the La Costera and La Safor regions of Valencia, Spain, causing significant damage to the area's agricultural industry. According to the Valencian Farmers Association, the storm affected over 1,700 hectares (4,200 acres) of land, primarily impacting kaki, olive, citrus, and avocado crops.
The association estimates the total losses could reach up to €9 million ($10.5 million), though growers are still assessing the full extent of the damage. In some areas, the impact was particularly severe, with up to 90% of olive groves destroyed. José Luis Sanchís, the association's delegate in the municipality of Moixent, described the situation as a "disaster," with barely four olive trees surviving in some plots.
The hailstorm comes as the region is still recovering from the devastating floods of 2024, which saw an atmospheric river release a year's worth of water in just a few hours. Farmers, livestock producers, and other agribusinesses in the area are facing increasing challenges due to the impacts of climate change, which are fueling more extreme weather events.
