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Spain Floods: Homes Submerged, Rescues Underway
19 Oct
Summary
- Torrential rains in eastern Spain caused widespread flooding.
- At least two women have died due to the extreme weather.
- Hundreds of thousands were ordered to shelter in place.
Torrential rains from Storm Adam swept across eastern Spain on Monday, causing devastating floods and resulting in the deaths of at least two people. Authorities issued shelter-in-place orders for over 800,000 residents as rivers burst their banks and streets became impassable.
Helicopters were crucial in rescuing individuals stranded on their rooftops in towns like Pego, where even heavy-duty vehicles struggled to navigate the inundated roads. Emergency services worked to evacuate trapped residents, particularly the elderly, who were forced to seek safety on elevated surfaces within their homes.
National weather agency AEMET reported rainfall exceeding 600 mm (24 inches) in some areas over 48 hours, a record not seen since 1987. The extreme weather led to the suspension of classes for over 100,000 students in Valencia, and the government deployed emergency units.
