Spain's Worst Flood Disaster in Decades Kills 158

Spain is reeling after devastating flash floods in the eastern region of Valencia killed at least 158 people, with numbers feared to rise. Torrential rain over just a few hours brought a year's worth of precipitation, submerging towns, overwhelming roads, and leaving communities in shock. 

Experts say that powerful storms, fueled by climate change and poor urban planning, have exposed Spain’s vulnerability to extreme weather, creating conditions that led to one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent history​.

What Triggered Spain’s Deadliest Floods?

These catastrophic floods stemmed from an atmospheric phenomenon called "DANA" (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos), a low-pressure system typical in Spain’s autumn months. The recent DANA brought unprecedented rainfall—up to 491 liters per square meter, recorded west of Valencia in Chiva in just hours, according to Spain’s national weather service, AEMET. 

This surge overwhelmed infrastructure and turned roads into rivers. This storm intensified over warm waters, and scientists highlight that the warming Mediterranean, fueled by climate change, added unprecedented power to the storm.