On the 25th of October, the AEMET (Spain’s Meteorological Society) issued severe weather warnings forecasting heavy and potentially deadly rain fall, caused by a Dana phenomenon, occurring when warm, moist air meets cold air independent of the jet stream. These warnings were repeated during the following days, although none of this was transmitted to the people on the ground until 20.11pm on the evening of the 30th when Valencia was already largely underwater. The speed at which the weather system moved across the region converted houses and underground car parks into death traps and swept cars and debris into large roadblocks.
The number of deaths has not yet reached an official total, as the scale of the devastation has left many areas hard to reach for rescue expeditions. Current figures at the time of writing have reached 200, although the work to reach those that are still missing is ongoing and will likely take a long time. The city of Valencia wasn’t as badly affected as the surrounding areas, home to 2.6 million people living in densely populated pueblos, where many elderly residents were put at risk.
After so much devastation, the question as to how avoidable the levels of destruction were has been raised. Although the strength of the rains couldn’t have spared the region from the devastating economic and infrastructural toll of the floods, there is little doubt that lives could have been saved. A lot of this responsibility lies in the hands of the authorities and politicians who displayed unacceptable levels of ineptness when leadership mattered most.
After so much devastation, the question as to how avoidable the levels of destruction were has been raised.
Spain’s political system of regional autonomy means that the Valencian region has its own regional government, headed by Carlos Mazón from the conservative PP party. The Spanish Constitution issues that it is Valencia’s regional authorities responsibility to ask for aid from the central government. Pedro Sanchez, the President of the Spanish government and leader of left-wing PSOE, hasn’t escaped criticism despite raising the alarm and intervening to increase emergency warning levels with lives clearly at risk. On a visit to Paiporta, one of the worst-affected areas, Sanchez along with Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Leticia were poorly received as some locals assaulted the officials with mud.
Political conflict, party opposition, and what can only be described as blame games in the weeks following the disaster has cultivated a culture of indignation, betrayal and distrust amongst many Spaniards. The political response from all sides has generated great controversy, and culminated with over 100,000 protesters gathering in the city of Valencia on the 9th of November to demand Mazón’s resignation and calls of ‘We are stained with mud, you are stained with blood’. Mazón, although admitting that mistakes were made, has defended his actions and said that there was not enough warning from central government and that the scale of the devastation was unforeseeable.
Through it all, in a time of such political hostility, people from across the region and further afield have demonstrated the strength of ordinary people. ‘Poble salva al poble’ or ‘People saving people’ has become the unofficial slogan of the immense efforts that so many have gone to to save their neighbours, friends and strangers. Valencia saw an overwhelming response with crowds of estimates of up to 10,000 volunteers gathering in Valencia’s Ciutat de les Bellas Artes i Ciencies to be processed and delegated to volunteering projects in different parts of the region. Stars and influencers, including global musician and fellow Spaniard Rosalia, have been making appeals on social media for resources, but mainly hands to help with the clean-up as well as taking on distribution of hot food and clothes.
Through it all, in a time of such political hostility, people from across the region and further afield have demonstrated the strength of ordinary people.
As Spain moves into conversations about long term aid for those affected, many are wondering how to avoid such disasters from happening again on such a scale. Pedro Sanchez has announced a package of 10.6 billion Euros to help households, businesses and local councils which were affected in the Dana with aid lasting ‘as long as necessary’, although the whole event served as a wake-up call for preparedness. Danas have become more common because of climate change and likely means that more extreme weather conditions will become more regular, especially in regions like Valencia which experience regular rainfall.
On the day that the floods hit, the European commission presented a report on the strengthening of civil and defence preparedness. The reality of the floods underlined the shortcomings that Europe faces when it comes to the climate, and demands coordination and conversation that sets aside party politics. Crisis preparedness can no longer be about political allegiances, but about protecting lives and infrastructure through the most effective and efficient methods.
Many initiatives have been created in a short period of time to coordinate help and donations in Spain, however it can be hard to know how to help from the UK. Many local charities and organisations in Valencia are taking international donations, but small changes such as shopping from Valencian owned small businesses can make a difference.
Here are some of the charities are asking for international donations: