The violent storms have already claimed at least 158 lives, a toll unprecedented since the floods of 1973

In south-eastern Spain, “dozens and dozens” of people remain unaccounted for, 48 hours after the terrible floods that have already claimed the lives of at least 158 people, said the Minister for Territorial Policy on Thursday evening, October 31. This is the first time the Spanish authorities have given an estimate of the number of missing. Ángel Víctor Torres said at a press conference: “We mourn 155 victims in the Valencia region, two in Castilla-La Mancha and one in Andalusia, bringing the total to 158, in addition to many people still missing.”

Why were the floods so destructive?

The south-east of Spain has been hit by storms of dramatic intensity, causing the death of 158 people – a human toll unprecedented since the deadly floods of October 1973.

According to the Spanish meteorological agency (Aemet), some localities received the equivalent of a year’s rainfall in just a few hours, the result of a “cold drop”. This climatic phenomenon, common at this time of year when an isolated high-altitude low-pressure system causes torrential rainfall, resulted in torrents of mud and the flash flooding of several rivers.

According to Jorge Olcina, climatologist at the University of Alicante, this deluge is the result of a “dramatic cocktail”, which he associates with global warming. The soils, dried out by long periods of drought, could no longer absorb large quantities of water, encouraging massive runoff.

What’s more, the hardest-hit region of Valencia saw many natural areas transformed into concrete and impermeable surfaces, further exacerbating the consequences of the flooding.

Severe weather warning in Spain: Pedro Sánchez calls on residents to stay at home

Pedro Sánchez calls on residents to stay indoors. Spain’s Prime Minister has urged residents of the Valencia region to limit their movements and stay in their homes due to the continuing risk of heavy rain. “The bad weather that caused the flooding is continuing,” he said after a visit to Valencia.

Red alert for torrential rain in the north of Valencia. A large part of the province of Castellón is now on red alert, according to the Spanish meteorological agency Aemet. The agency warns that more than 180 liters of water per square meter could fall, and urges residents to avoid non-essential travel. An orange alert remains in force for neighboring areas of Catalonia and the Valencian Community, forecasters add.