Else Beekman
A violent DANA (isolated depression at high levels) storm system has unleashed torrential rains across the south and east of Spain leaving seven people missing, an AVE high-speed train derailed, and significant material damage.
The ongoing storm has brought heavy flooding, disrupted travel, and led to widespread damage across multiple regions. Consequently this has prompted authorities to urge extreme caution.
Severe flooding, missing persons, and transport chaos
As of Tuesday, seven individuals remain unaccounted for due to the intense rains. In Letur, Albacete, six residents are missing after flash floods swept through the town, inundating buildings and isolating thirty others. Rescue teams, including firefighters and a Guardia Civil helicopter, are actively searching for the missing.
⛈️😱¡Qué barbaridad! Impresionantes imágenes que nos llegan desde Letur, donde el arroyo se ha desbordado completamente, y afecta de esta manera a las calles de su casco antiguo. Esperamos que no haya ningún herido. #DANA #Albacete #meteoAB
© @Gomarizo pic.twitter.com/SuuX54v5Aj
— Meteo⚡Hellín (@MeteoHellin) October 29, 2024
Meanwhile, in Valencia, a truck driver was reported missing in l’Alcudia amid rapidly rising floodwaters. The flooding has prompted road closures, affecting over 30 routes and resulting in halted public transport services, including Valencia’s metro Line 1 between Alginet and Castellón.
Travel disruptions and infrastructure damage
Travel disruptions are widespread, with six flights to Valencia rerouted and three cancelled. Rail services, including the high-speed Madrid-Valencia line, faced interruptions due to submerged tracks near Siete Aguas. An AVE train travelling from Málaga to Madrid also derailed in Málaga Province after encountering severe flooding, though no injuries were reported among the 291 passengers.
Storm impacts across Andalucía
In Andalucía, Málaga, Granada, and Almería have faced significant rainfall, with over 600 emergency calls for flooding and property damage. The Guadalhorce River overflowed in Álora, Pizarra and Cártama, flooding homes, trapping residents, and washing away vehicles. In El Ejido, a powerful hailstorm damaged between 4,500 and 11,300 hectares of greenhouses, a lot of cars and even solar panels, according to reports from the town’s mayor and agricultural unions.
The situation remains dangerous as the DANA storm system is expected to continue impacting the region. Red alerts are in place across parts of Valencia for potential rainfall of 120–180 litres per square metre in just 12 hours. Authorities continue to emphasise the importance of following safety guidelines as the extreme weather persists