Following severe floods that claimed at least 92 lives, the national government shifted all blame to local authorities, pointing out that warnings were issued only after water levels had risen.
"Spain's deadliest floods in a decade show that Europe is still unprepared for the impacts of a warming atmosphere," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in response to the disaster.
"This is the dramatic reality of climate change, and we must be prepared for it," she emphasized.
The rainfall in the suburban areas around Valencia, Spain’s third-largest city, not only exposed the socialist-led government’s lack of preparedness for such events but also made them the target of criticism from the center-right opposition for failing to warn at-risk populations in time.
Local authorities in Valencia admitted that the warning message was only sent at 20:12—eight hours after the first flood reports and 10 hours after the National Meteorological Agency’s warning. This delay was described as a failure for the emergency services coordination managed by the local government.
"The situation had already escalated significantly by the time the Valencian authorities took action," stated an official from the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
The Spanish government has responsibility over regional warning systems, with the right to send emergency alerts to citizens’ mobile phones to control mobility in critical moments. When asked why there was a delay in alerting citizens to avoid travel and stay home, a government official, remaining anonymous to avoid political criticism, responded simply, "We don’t know."
Because of the delay in sending the SMS alert, people stranded in low-lying homes, on streets, in stores, and at work were essentially "trapped." This delay was fatal for many victims who couldn’t escape the floods in time.
As of yesterday afternoon, the official death toll was no less than 92, according to Spanish Minister for Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, who said, "The scale of the damage is beyond measure." The exact number of missing persons remains unknown, underscoring the catastrophic nature of the event.
Flood experts expressed frustration with the insufficient warning system. "The high death toll signals that something went wrong," said Dr. Hannah Cloke, a hydrology professor at the University of Reading.
"This was a massive storm... We knew about the intense rainfall in advance, but our warnings didn’t reach people in time," she added. She also expressed concern that rescue workers were not adequately briefed, putting their lives at risk.
In recent weeks, several European countries have also suffered from devastating and deadly floods. Floods in Greece, Belgium, and Germany served as warnings to these nations of the rising threat posed by extreme weather patterns that have persisted for several years.
In Spain, the impact of climate change on this particular flood has not yet been measured. However, scientists note that warming is a key factor in such disasters. In August, the Mediterranean Sea recorded unprecedented temperatures, intensifying evaporation and cloud formation, leading to heavy rainfall.
"Undoubtedly, climate change is the main cause behind the increasing intensity of these coastal floods," said Friederike Otto, head of a research group studying the influence of climate change on extreme weather at Imperial College London.
Overloaded Emergency Services
In Madrid, government official María Crespo spent the afternoon anxious about her family living in Alfafar, near Valencia, who only received an SMS warning about the flood when it was already near their home.
Crespo recounted that when she spoke with her sister by phone at around 9:30 p.m., her sister assured her that everything was fine. But half an hour later, her sister called back in panic, saying that water was flooding into their home as the previously dry Turia River surged.
"Until 4 a.m., when their phone batteries died, they told me they were spending the night on the roof because their house was completely submerged," said Crespo.
Locals seeking help soon realized they would have to rely on themselves. Telephone networks were down in the evening, and the regional emergency line was overwhelmed, effectively rendering the 112 helpline unusable.
Sandra Gómez, a Valencian sociologist and Member of the European Parliament, said her husband, a teacher, had to go to work on Tuesday evening because local authorities failed to issue an alert to cancel classes. By the time the SMS alert reached him, he was already trapped on a flooded highway, with water up to his waist.
Union leaders called for an investigation into companies that required employees to work despite the adverse weather forecast.
Political Accountability
Left-wing politicians in Madrid accused the right-leaning Valencian President Carlos Mazón of failing to instruct people to stay home, reducing the number of people in harm's way. His government was also criticized for dismantling the regional emergency services units capable of quick response and coordination, as well as elite operational forces. Journalists emphasized that the Emergency Coordination Center only convened around 5 p.m.
"This disaster carries a political responsibility," said Gabriel Rufián, a deputy from the Catalan Republican Left. "Perhaps the storm was inevitable, but many victims died because they were forced to go to work or because the rescue services were ill-equipped."
Experts also noted that uncontrolled urban expansion in the Valencian region worsened the impact of the disaster. They pointed out that roads and infrastructure acted as channels for the floodwaters, accelerating the destruction.
"Climate change plays a decisive role in the scale of this natural disaster," said geologist Joan Escuer during an interview on Spanish radio. "But had we not developed infrastructure in high-risk areas and allowed people to settle there, the consequences would not have been so severe."
This tragic data was released just ahead of Ursula von der Leyen's report on "how to improve the European Union's crisis management abilities, from wars to extreme weather."
"Preparedness should be the foundation of all our actions," von der Leyen stated, pledging support to Spain in the aftermath of the catastrophe.
Von der Leyen also tasked the Commission with creating a comprehensive plan to protect Europeans from extreme weather events. However, for Spain’s flood-stricken regions, this plan may come too late. By Wednesday afternoon, the storm had shifted southward, and AEMET issued a "Red Alert" for the Cádiz region.
"We cannot let our guard down," stressed AEMET official Rubén del Campo, noting that the situation in Cádiz was unprecedented.
Source: Politico
