Symbolic imageFloods kill at least four in eastern Spain as rescuers lift residents from rooftops
Torrential rain from storm Adam killed at least four people in eastern Spain, state broadcaster RTVE reported. Rescuers pulled residents from rooftops in the provinces of Valencia and Alicante.
Heavy rain and flooding hit Spain's Mediterranean coast on Monday, 19 October, hardest in the south of Valencia province and the north of Alicante province. Two deaths had been reported earlier, a woman in Sagunto and a woman in Catalonia, and dpa reports that two more bodies were recovered in the coastal town of Oliva. Rescue crews, including soldiers of the army's emergency unit, used helicopters and boats to free dozens of people from rooftops, flooded buildings and vehicles. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the situation in the Valencia region "very difficult".
Record rainfall
Spain's weather service AEMET recorded more than 530 millimetres of rain in Oliva within 24 hours and just over 620 in Pego. Regional emergency official Juan Carlos Valderrama said many people were trapped and urged residents to stay home.
Curfews and evacuations
The regional government declared the second-highest emergency level and suspended classes in more than 40 municipalities. A curfew first covered 145 municipalities with over 800,000 residents and applied to eight by the afternoon. Oliva's mayor Yolanda Pastor said about 2,000 people were evacuated from seven campsites.
Climate context
Scientists say climate change intensifies the autumn storms that typically hit eastern Spain. According to AEMET, September 2026 was the hottest on record on the peninsula.