Valencia residents reveal the reality of the devastation

“We knew the storm would be dangerous, but the government and authorities didn’t tell us just how dangerous. People went to work as usual; everyone acted as normal. The 112 alert didn’t arrive until around 8:00 p.m. (at 8:14), and by then, the rain had already been heavy since 6:00 p.m.,” said 31-year-old José Palau, a resident of Bétera, northwest of Valencia, Spain, to fyi.news.

Residents in areas like Utiel, Requena, Cheste, and Chiva in Valencia’s interior, along with coastal regions such as Paiporta, Catarroja, L’Alcúdia, Albal, and Torrent, faced severe destruction beginning Tuesday afternoon (October 29): 205 confirmed dead, numerous animals lost, and widespread damage to roads, transport, infrastructure, and farmland, with many bridges washed away.

The number of missing persons remains uncertain, but according to foreign media, the Spanish government, and testimonies gathered by fyi, it is estimated to be in the dozens, suggesting the death toll may rise.
The rain began around 11:00 a.m., with the first floods reported by 1:00 p.m.

The heavy rainfall across Valencia’s interior caused the Rio Magro and several other ravines and smaller rivers to overflow. The coastal region is one of Spain’s most densely populated, meaning many buildings are near ravines and rivers, while Valencia is Spain’s third-largest city.

“Because the rain was so intense, many people went to move their cars from garages that ended up completely flooded, leading to multiple drownings. Others lost their lives because they were on the ground floor,” says José Palau.

He adds that on Thursday, a day after the rains, they received a warning to avoid travel, as reaching them would be difficult for emergency services due to “massive” damage and extensive disruptions to transportation.

“The trains and metro have been completely destroyed. Residents in the affected areas lack access to drinking water. Restoring communications is expected to take months. Many people are still trapped in their towns, and the smaller towns in southern Valencia, which have been hardest hit, have no public transportation,” he told fyi.

An employee in the Riba-roja area near the industrial zone, Arturo de Felipe Martinez, a Valencia resident who works at a Mercadona supermarket, could not return home due to the heavy rain, he told fyi.news.

“We couldn’t move from 5 p.m. on. My supervisor already knew we’d be spending the night at work. We saw the flashing lights from police and fire vehicles, and all they were telling people was ‘get out of your cars.’ The rain stopped around 10 or 11 p.m., but we still couldn’t move since the roads were flooded, and we kept hearing crashes. We all spent the night there. They made us breakfast, and we tried to leave the site in a van parked outside. When I looked out, there was mud everywhere, with cars piled side by side or on top of each other,” Arturo recalls.

Like José, Arturo noted, “We all received a message from 112, but we started laughing. By the time the message arrived, we were already trapped.”

He added, “There was no preparation from the authorities. We found out about the approaching storm during lunch at 2:30 p.m. We checked the Internet and saw it there. I didn’t see many police or firefighters preparing for the storm. We stayed safe in the industrial area where we work because we took the right precautions and avoided risk.”

José Palau explains that the state’s response remains inadequate, with most aid reaching affected areas coming through the solidarity of residents and volunteers.

“Many Valencia residents are crossing on foot to bring food and water to impacted towns. Once again, people’s solidarity is filling the gaps left by authorities who didn’t prioritize the lives of those affected. Rescue resources are being deployed, but they’re simply insufficient given the extent of the damage in these areas.”

Arturo de Felipe Martinez shares a similar perspective. “In the two days following the storm, people were working to free those trapped in their cars and other areas. For example, my friends with larger vehicles are helping those stranded without water or power. People are volunteering food, water, and other essentials.”

The amount of rain that fell in one day on Tuesday was roughly equivalent to the annual rainfall in the affected areas. Typically, there is very little rain throughout the year, but there are periods of intense downpours, and this was one of those times, though no one anticipated the extent of the destruction.

“When I tried to go home with my colleague the next day, we crossed the bridge, and I had never seen the Rio Magro so full of water. It was incredible,” said Arturo.

“I could hear cars crashing as they tried to escape. The next day, I heard people attempting to start their cars, but it was futile. While I was inside and watching the water rise to my knees, I thought, ‘I hope no one is outside,’” he concluded.