Madrid – Spain has experienced its rainiest October on record, culminating in the most devastating floods the country has faced in decades, the national weather agency AEMET confirmed on November 8. The torrential downpour on October 29 led to flash floods that swept through the suburbs south of Valencia, leaving a tragic toll in its wake.
More than 220 people lost their lives as floodwaters surged through communities, destroying cars, collapsing bridges, and inundating homes and underground car parks. Seventy-eight people remain unaccounted for, although officials suspect some may be among the 48 bodies yet to be identified.
Meteorologists attribute this increase in extreme weather events to the impacts of climate change, highlighting the warming Mediterranean as a contributing factor. Higher sea temperatures enhance water evaporation, which, in turn, fuels heavier rainfall. This October, peninsular Spain saw an average rainfall of 147mm, nearly double the usual for the month.
The town of Turis, located 15km from Valencia, experienced unprecedented rainfall with 184.6mm in just one hour—a national record. Over 24 hours, Turis accumulated 771mm of rain, approaching the highest recorded single-day rainfall in 1987 in Oliva, which reached 817mm. Despite the rain, October was warmer than average, with an overall temperature of 15.5°C, 0.9°C above normal, indicating changing climate patterns across the region.