This video details the devastating impact of heavy rainfall and flash floods across parts of Spain, particularly in Albacete, Fena and parts of Andalusia. The flooding caused widespread damage, forced evacuations and left many people missing.
Widespread damage and evacuations: Severe flooding submerged homes, swept away vehicles, disrupted rail and road traffic and left people stranded. Sudden flooding in some areas, such as a town in Alaid, made rapid evacuation difficult, with cars drifting on streets that turned into raging rivers. Emergency services are working tirelessly to search for missing people and evacuate people in vulnerable areas.
Impact on infrastructure: Flooding spread beyond residential areas, affecting infrastructure. The high-speed rail line between Madrid and Valencia was suspended due to damage, and a high-speed train in Andalusia derailed due to flooding. While no casualties were reported in the latter incident, concerns remain about the resilience of Spain's transport infrastructure to extreme weather. Some towns, such as Allora, required helicopter rescues from flooded homes after rivers burst their banks.
Attribution to Climate Change: Meteorologists have attributed these extreme weather events to a Mediterranean phenomenon called gota fría. This involves the collision of cold polar air and warm Mediterranean air, creating violent storms and heavy rainfall that lead to flash flooding in coastal and low-lying areas. The event highlights Spain's growing vulnerability to extreme weather caused by climate change.
With rising sea temperatures driving atmospheric instability, the risk of heavy rain, heatwaves and droughts is heightened. This is further underscored by the link to climate change and the country’s recent experience with severe heatwaves this year. The video highlights the growing urgency of understanding and responding to these escalating climate-related risks in Spain and other Mediterranean countries.