Water then mud submerges Valencia - 11th November 2024

Torrential rain and flash floods have destroyed many parts of Spain's Valencia region, with over one year's rainfall in a single day.

The Spanish Meteorological Agency AEMET outlined how the deadly rainfall was caused by a weather phenomenon called a 'cold drop'. This occurs when a body of warm air combines with cold air, rapidly ascending to form dense rain clouds.

Cold drops are not infrequent in eastern and southern Spain, considering it's located between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The mountainous coast is also ideal for the formation of storm clouds, hail storms and even tornadoes.

More than 200 people have lost their lives in the flash floods that overwhelmed towns and villages. The emergency services are continuing their search for those trapped or missing, as volunteers face the massive clean-up task.

In Paiporta, one of the worst affected towns, Vanesa Cruanyes watched in fear from her home as shop workers opposite struggled to escape the oncoming river-like flood.

Vanesa Cruanyes: "In this shop all the workers were trapped inside when the lights went. They'd pulled down the shutters and they were all trapped inside, until the glass broke in this window from the force of the water and they were able to get out to some cars that were here. They got into the cars. They managed to get a little girl and another woman up to the first floor with sheets."

As the danger of theft increases, neighbours such as student Sofia Sánchez have united to keep local shops safe from thieves.

Sofia Sanchez: "We came down at two o'clock in the morning or so, because we saw that they were looting the tobacconist's there, and we said, well, they're going into the jewellery shop, they're going to enter the Chinese shop, they're going to enter every store. And, we've been taking turns."

Heavy rain's now affecting Andalucia and Spain's western regions, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has promised to support those affected. The government's announced three days of official mourning to honour lives lost in the disaster.