Large hail pummels Spain during historic storms
Massive hailstones pelted shoppers in El Ejido, Spain as storms swept through the eastern side of the nation. (Video: Jose A Casas via Storyful)
VALENCIA, Spain — A historic and devastating flooding event that has swept across parts of eastern Spain this week has turned deadly.
Carlos Mazon, president of the Valencia Government in Spain, said during a press conference early Wednesday morning that authorities have confirmed fatalities from the storms, but he did not give any additional details "out of respect for the families."
As a potent storm system spun up the eastern coast of Spain from Monday into Tuesday, strong moisture-laden winds slammed into the mountains west of Valencia, dropping torrential rains for hours.
A car covered with mud is pictured on a flooded street in Alora, near Malaga, on October 29, 2024, after a heavy rain hit southern Spain. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP) (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO/AFP via Getty Images)
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A car covered with mud is pictured on a flooded street in Alora, near Malaga, on October 29, 2024, after a heavy rain hit southern Spain. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP) (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO/AFP via Getty Images)
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TOPSHOT - Men run next to a car covered with mud on a flooded street in Alora, near Malaga, on October 29, 2024, after a heavy rain hit southern Spain. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP) (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO/AFP via Getty Images)
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VALENCIA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 29: (EDITORS NOTE - This image was taken on a mobile phone. Best image available) Cars are partly submerged in flood waters on October 29, 2024 on the western outskirts of Valencia, Spain. Spain's meteorological agency had issued its highest alert for the region due to extreme rainfall. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
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VALENCIA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 29: (EDITORS NOTE - This image was taken on a mobile phone. Best image available) Cars are partly submerged in flood waters on October 29, 2024 on the western outskirts of Valencia, Spain. Spain's meteorological agency had issued its highest alert for the region due to extreme rainfall. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
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ALFARP, VALENCIA VALENCIAN COMM, SPAIN - OCTOBER 29: Flood of the Magre river, on 29 October, 2024 in Alfarp, Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain. The Emergency Coordination Center (CCE) has raised to red the rain alert level throughout the coast and inland north of Valencia, where the orange alert was set. Thus, the ECC has updated the emergency plans for the DANA that affects this Tuesday, October 29, the Valencian Community, and that early in the morning established the red level only for the south coast of Valencia. (Photo By Jorge Gil/Europa Press via Getty Images)
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LLOMBAI, VALENCIA VALENCIAN COM, SPAIN - OCTOBER 29: A man bails water, on 29 October, 2024 in Llombai, Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain. The Emergency Coordination Center (CCE) has raised to red the rain alert level throughout the coast and inland north of Valencia, where the orange alert was set. Thus, the ECC has updated the emergency plans for the DANA that affects this Tuesday, October 29, the Valencian Community, and that early in the morning established the red level only for the south coast of Valencia. (Photo By Jorge Gil/Europa Press via Getty Images)
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The mountain town of Chiva, west of Valencia, reported 19.33 inches of rain in just 8 hours, according to Spain’s government meteorological agency. 13.55 inches of that fell in just four hours, with 6.5 inches coming in one hour.
Water rushed down the mountainsides, quickly overwhelming rivers and towns under feet of raging waters.
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Government officials urged residents to seek higher ground and stay on the upper floors if possible. Video from Spain’s civil defense showed some water rescues conducted by helicopter.
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Hundreds of cars were trapped in flood waters on a Spanish highway, according to apuntmedia.es, and several other major highways were closed. Rail services were also suspended.
A pedestrian bridge also reportedly collapsed in Picanya.
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The severe storms also brought reports of tornadoes and large hail.