Spain breathed a sigh of relief this Thursday when it confirmed that the new DANA front that devastated the country caused only material damage and no personal damage, two weeks after the floods that left 224 dead, most of them in the Valencia region.
Throughout Thursday, the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) lowered the highest alerts in almost the entire country, except in western Andalusia (south), where the orange warning is active that warns of a “significant risk” due to rains.
“The worst (…) has passed,” Aemet had indicated on network
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The alert decreed on Wednesday in many Valencian municipalities devastated by the first storm had caused residents to spend the night again waiting for the sky and fearing for the state of their sewage, in many cases clogged by dry mud and debris yet to be removed. .
During the night, according to Aemet data, 110 mm of water was recorded in Alcudia de Veo, in the interior of the Valencian Community, and 88 mm in Chiva, one of the municipalities most affected by the floods at the end of October, but without leaving personal injuries.
“Complicated night”
Given the alert, the Valencian Government – highly criticized for the management of the floods on October 29 – suspended school, sports and private vehicle mobility activities in more than a hundred municipalities in this region of eastern Spain, including the capital, Valencia.
As the worst forecasts were not met, the circulation limitations were lifted, as indicated by the regional president, Carlos Mazón, in his X account.
The improvement in weather also allowed trains to resume between Barcelona and Valencia, suspended the day before, and complete the reactivation of the high-speed line that connects Madrid with Spain’s third city, interrupted since the catastrophe at the end of October..
“Caution until the end”
This new DANA (isolated depression at high levels) impacted above all in Malaga, in the south, where on Wednesday more than 4,200 people were evacuated preventively, classes, urban transport and a large part of the medium and large railway service were suspended. long distance.
The storm, which flooded streets and overflowed some rivers, also forced the postponement of the tie in Malaga between Spain and Poland for the Billie Jean King Women’s Tennis Cup from Wednesday to Thursday.
With the lifting of the highest alert, the authorities nevertheless continued to ask the population for caution.
“It is better to prevent than to rebuild,” the Andalusian regional president, Juan Manuel Moreno, reiterated this Thursday from one of the affected towns.
The concern now moves to the western part of this extensive region in southern Spain, where a large part of the provinces of Seville, Cádiz and Huelva are under orange notice and classes are suspended for more than half a million schoolchildren.
“In Malaga, the speed of evacuations has probably saved many lives,” said Jess Neumann, professor of Hydrology at the University of Reading, United Kingdom.
Four Latin Americans killed by DANA
The destructive floods two weeks ago left, for the moment, 216 dead in the Valencian region, of which 26 were foreigners, according to data from the Data Integration Center (CID) released on Thursday by the Spanish justice system.
Among them there was one person from Ecuador, another from Venezuela, one from Colombia and another from Paraguay, in addition to nine deaths from Romania, four from Morocco and another four from China, among the hardest hit communities. Almost half of the total victims were 70 years old or older.
In addition, rescue services continue to search for 16 missing people.
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The new rains also caused the postponement to Friday of the expected appearance of Mazón, who had to give an account on Thursday before the regional parliament of his management of the floods.
The Conservative leader is the subject of strong criticism for the response to the emergency that led to the destructive floods of October 29, which many considered negligent and slow. This unrest gave rise to a massive demonstration that brought together 130,000 on Saturday in Valencia.
LDAV
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What are the key differences between DANA storms and other weather events in Spain?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Dr. Elena Castillo, Meteorology Expert
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Dr. Castillo! It’s great to have you with us today. Spain has recently been through quite a tumultuous weather event. What can you tell us about the recent DANA front that hit the country?
Dr. Elena Castillo: Thank you for having me! Yes, the recent DANA, or isolated depression at high levels, has indeed caused significant disruption in Spain, particularly in the Valencia region. Fortunately, this latest storm caused only material damage, which is a relief given the tragedy two weeks ago when floods resulted in 224 fatalities, primarily in Valencia.
Time.news Editor: That is a relief. However, the fact that there was a loss of life just weeks prior must still weigh heavily on minds. How did the recent storm compare to the earlier one?
Dr. Elena Castillo: It was a complicated situation. The latest storm brought heavy rainfall—110 mm recorded in Alcudia de Veo and 88 mm in Chiva—which certainly worried residents. Many were still coping with the aftermath of the prior floods, dealing with clogged sewage systems and debris. The government had to suspend activities in over a hundred municipalities, indicating the seriousness of the warning.
Time.news Editor: What can you tell us about the government’s response to these weather events? Some criticism has been aimed at their management of the last floods.
Dr. Elena Castillo: Indeed, the Valencian Government faced significant scrutiny regarding their flood management. After the October floods, they suspended schools and transportation in anticipation of the new storm. It was a precautionary measure that ultimately proved wise, though they were criticized for not acting decisively enough after the initial disaster. However, as the most severe forecasts did not materialize this time, they were able to lift restrictions.
Time.news Editor: That’s interesting to note. Moving forward, what preventative measures do you think need to be implemented to ensure the safety of residents in these regions?
Dr. Elena Castillo: Absolutely, prevention is key. We need to prioritize improved infrastructure for drainage and flood management systems in at-risk areas. Additionally, consistent community education on emergency preparedness can significantly reduce panic and improve safety during such storms. The focus should be on resilience-building—making sure communities can handle future storms better.
Time.news Editor: You mentioned community education; how vital do you think proper communication from meteorological agencies is during these events?
Dr. Elena Castillo: It’s crucial! Clear, timely communication from agencies like Aemet can help the public prepare and react appropriately to impending threats. The public must understand warning levels and know what actions to take. The mutual cooperation between meteorological services, local governments, and communities is essential for effective response strategies.
Time.news Editor: Before we wrap up, what should residents under warning in regions like western Andalusia be mindful of as they prepare for potentially severe weather?
Dr. Elena Castillo: They should stay updated on weather forecasts and heed any official advisories. It’s best to make plans for evacuations if necessary and ensure that emergency kits are ready. Being proactive rather than reactive can save lives. As the Andalusian regional president aptly said, “It is better to prevent than to rebuild,” and that sentiment should guide all our actions during such crises.
Time.news Editor: Wise words indeed, Dr. Castillo. Thank you for your insight on this pressing topic. We appreciate you taking the time to speak with us today!
Dr. Elena Castillo: Thank you! It’s been a pleasure to discuss these important issues.