Flash Floods Devastate Southern and Eastern Spain, Leaving Four Missing
Southern and eastern Spain are grappling with the aftermath of torrential rain that has triggered severe flash floods, leading to the disappearance of at least four individuals. The town of Letur, located in the eastern province of Albacete, experienced especially violent flooding on Tuesday, with floodwaters rushing through the streets and sweeping away vehicles, as captured in harrowing footage broadcast on Spanish television.
Local authorities, including Letur's mayor, Sergio Marín Sánchez, reported ongoing rescue operations as emergency services search for the missing individuals. "Some were in vehicles while others were at home," he explained. Specific details about the circumstances surrounding their disappearance remain scant.
In the town of L'Alcúdia, also in the Valencia region, police are actively searching for a truck driver who has been unaccounted for since early afternoon. The situation has prompted widespread disruptions, particularly in transportation, with national rail infrastructure operator ADIF announcing the suspension of high-speed train services between Madrid and Valencia due to the storm's impact on essential rail networks in the affected regions.
Additionally, a high-speed train carrying 276 passengers derailed in Andalusia. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported. Emergency services have been mobilized extensively in the region; in the town of Álora, rescues were carried out by helicopter as a river overflowed its banks, submerging areas in water.
The Spanish state weather agency AEMET has issued a red alert for the Valencia region and a second-highest alert level for parts of Andalusia, as the downpour continues to wreak havoc. Numerous roads across both regions have been closed because of flooding.
This intense rainfall is attributed to a weather phenomenon known as "gota fría" or cold drop. This occurs when cold air masses move over the warmer waters of the Mediterranean Sea, creating instability in the atmosphere. The result is rapid elevation of warm, saturated air, leading to the swift development of towering cumulonimbus clouds that release heavy rainfall across the eastern regions of Spain.
Experts warn that such extreme weather events—ranging from heatwaves to severe storms—are intensifying due to the escalating climate crisis. The increasing frequency and severity of these weather phenomena raise grave concerns for public safety and local infrastructure in Spain and beyond.
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