Turkey has expressed its sorrow and deep condolences to Spain for the terrible floods that hit Valencia last night in particular, leaving dozens dead and extensive material damage after the heaviest rainfall recorded since 1966.
In an official statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed its sorrow at the loss of life following the disaster and conveyed its condolences to the families of the victims: ‘We are deeply saddened by the loss of life caused by the recent floods in Valencia and its region. We convey our condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives, and to the people of Spain,’ the statement issued by Ankara read.
According to the latest information, at least 95 people have died (92 of them in Valencia) after the worst storm recorded in the region this century. Although provinces such as Albacete and Cuenca were also particularly affected by the heavy rains, the worst part has been borne by Valencia, where this morning there were still numerous roads cut off and people waiting to be rescued, so the authorities have urged the population to avoid any movement, as the rains are expected to continue at least until tomorrow.
Dozens of flights scheduled to land in Valencia were diverted or cancelled after hurricane-force winds hit the region yesterday, while high-speed train connections between Madrid and Valencia had to be suspended ‘for the safety of passengers’ due to the weather alert. On the roads, dozens of cars were stranded yesterday and lorries were knocked over by the wind, while witnesses confirmed having seen at least three tornadoes in the area.
Many people had to climb on trucks, walls, trees and rooftops to escape the rising waters and save their lives, while several videos circulated last night showing terrible scenes, with streets turned into rivers and cars and even people being swept away by water.
445 litres per square metre in less than 24 hours
Despite the efforts of the emergency services, many people were still waiting this morning to be rescued, which the president of the President of the Valencia region, Carlos Mazón, attributed not to a lack of means or will, but to the fact that it is still ‘completely impossible’ to access several affected areas, so it is not ruled out that the number of victims will increase in the coming hours and days.
Meteorologists say the storm that hit the region last night was caused by a combination of cold air descending from the upper layers of the atmosphere and warm air rising due to the still high temperatures in the Mediterranean, generating a convective system of several super cells that was ‘catastrophic’.
Rainfall in Valencia reached a staggering 445.4 litres per square metre, the highest rainfall recorded in the region in 24 hours since 11 September 1966, when there were 520 litres per square metre in Tavernes de la Val, while the death toll from the floods already surpasses the 81 people killed in the so-called Great Valencia Flood of 1957. It is also the deadliest weather disaster in Europe since the floods that swept through Germany in 2021, leaving almost 200 people dead.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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