On October 31st, Valencians saw a year’s worth of rainfall pour down in a single day. With no prior warnings, Valencia’s drainage systems were overstrained and residents were caught by surprise as they proceeded with their daily lives. According to Spain’s national weather service, it rained more in just 8 hours than it has in the previous 20 months. By the time authorities sent warnings to mobile phones, asking people to stay at home, it was already too late with many people already on the road.
Marking Europe’s worst flood-related disaster since 1967, so far over 200 people were killed. This number might be an underestimate, as more bodies could still be recovered from underground garages, and the search for dozens still missing persons continues. People remained trapped wherever they were, cars were swept away, and bridges were destroyed. In response, the Spanish government deployed emergency troops to Valencia on Friday.
With floods reaching unprecedented levels in the Mediterranean, is it finally sinking in that climate change is no longer intangible but something that we can actually feel and see around us? According to climate scientists and meteorologists, the flooding is justified by a ‘cut-off low pressure storm system’, a natural weather event that affects Spain in autumn and winter. This is also referred to as “DANA”, which is the Spanish acronym for the system.
Previously, Valencia has suffered 2 major DANAs in the 1980s. However, climate change directly exacerbates the amount of rain these storms can produce. In fact, studies reveal that climate change has intensified rainfall in Spain by 12%, reshaping the country’s traditionally sunny, dry climate. True to its name, climate change is shifting the climate right before our eyes. More than ever, this stands as a call to action.
While nature is unpredictable, our preparedness and response must not be.
Whether this was a result of climate change or a naturally occurring event, should the government be held accountable for not being adequately prepared? Citizens criticized Spanish authorities for delaying their warnings about the potential dangers of the storm, which were only issued 8 hours after the floods were first reported. The frustration only deepened as it was pointed out that weather forecasts were able to predict extreme weather conditions in advance, giving authorities ample time to act. This incident highlights the controversial trade-off between prioritizing economic activity and enforcing public safety measures—a compromise that, in this case, led to fatal consequences. On Sunday, Spain’s monarchy, accompanied by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, visited one of the towns hardest hit by the disaster. They were encountered with angry crowds pelting them with mud.
But when the government falls short, it is humanity that steps in to help. There has been a huge voluntary response in Valencia and across Spain to help those impacted by the flooding. People in Valencia walked for hours to reach the damaged towns to offer their help. The arts and science center, which is dedicated to normally hosting opera performances, became a “nerve center” to facilitate the clean-up operation. In Madrid, there are many donation points for necessities. IE University has also launched a campaign in support of Valencia, urging students to leave their donations in the collection corner found across the campus. This only comes to highlight the strength of human compassion and solidarity within Spain, serving as a beacon of hope.
This catastrophe serves as a reminder, not only for Spain, but for all Europe of the critical importance of proactive measures by authorities to safeguard their citizens. While nature is unpredictable, our preparedness and response must not be. On a broader scale, it emphasizes the urgent need for global collective action to mitigate climate change and its devastating impacts.
Featured image by Alberto Saiz/AP.
