Homes are submerged, roads disappear beneath raging floodwaters and desperate residents are airlifted to safety as Storm Adam unleashes torrential rain across eastern Spain, triggering more than 1,000 rescue operations and leaving communities battling widespread destruction.
In Valencia and surrounding areas, rescue teams deploy helicopters, boats and military vehicles to reach people trapped by rapidly rising waters.
Footage filmed on Monday shows rescuers wading through flooded homes and helicopter crews lifting stranded residents to safety as streets turn into rivers and powerful currents sweep through neighbourhoods.
The scale of the downpour is staggering, with some areas recording more than 700 litres of rainfall per square metre within 24 hours. The relentless rain triggers flash floods, sends rivers surging beyond their banks and cuts off entire communities, leaving residents with little time to escape.
More than 2,000 people are evacuated as emergency operations intensify, with the town of Oliva among the worst-hit locations. Seven campsites are cleared, while rescue workers race to reach people stranded in isolated homes and rural settlements. In parts of the town, floodwater reportedly rises to around 1.5 metres inside some houses, putting residents at serious risk.
The flooding also leaves vehicles swept away or piled on top of one another, while impassable roads complicate rescue efforts. Schools suspend classes, public activities are disrupted and authorities issue emergency warnings, urging residents to avoid unnecessary journeys and move away from flood-prone areas.
At least four people are reported dead in the latest disaster, according to reports published on Tuesday, with fatalities recorded in Valencia and Catalonia. As emergency crews continue searching affected areas, officials assess the damage and remain vigilant for further heavy rainfall.
The catastrophe brings back painful memories of October 2024, when devastating floods killed more than 230 people in the Valencia region, destroyed homes and businesses, and caused extensive infrastructure damage.
latest deluge once again highlights the dangers posed by extreme rainfall and fast-rising floodwaters along Spain’s Mediterranean coast.
Although conditions begin to improve in some areas, the emergency is far from over. Rescue teams continue working to reach isolated residents, drain flooded streets and restore access to cut-off communities, while displaced families face the daunting task of assessing the damage and rebuilding their lives.
