Valencia នៅ​ក្នុង​ការ​ឆ្លើយតប​គ្រាអាសន្ន​របស់​ប្រទេស​អេស្បាញ​ត្រូវ​បាន​សាកល្បង​ម្តង​ទៀត​ខណៈ​ដែល​ព្យុះ​ដ៏ខ្លាំង​បាន​បញ្ចេញ​ទឹកជំនន់​ ភ្លៀង​ធ្លាក់​ និង​ភាពចលាចល​ទូទាំង​តំបន់។

ថ្ងៃសុក្រ, ខែឧសភា 9, 2025

ទីក្រុង Valencia ក្នុងប្រទេសអេស្បាញត្រូវបានវាយប្រហារដោយព្យុះដ៏កាចសាហាវមួយផ្សេងទៀត ដែលនាំមកនូវទឹកជំនន់ភ្លាមៗ ភ្លៀងធ្លាក់ និងភាពចលាចល ដែលបណ្តាលឱ្យមានការភ័យខ្លាចពីគ្រោះមហន្តរាយ DANA ឆ្នាំ 2024 ដ៏សោកនាដកម្ម។

The storm that struck the Valencian region on May 6, 2025, left a devastating impact, flooding towns from Utiel to Chiva. Rivers overflowed, roads disappeared, and homes were submerged in mud, drawing painful comparisons to the catastrophic DANA disaster that struck on October 29, 2024. That event claimed 224 lives, destroyed over 100,000 vehicles, and buried entire suburbs in Paiporta under toxic sludge. The recurrence of such destruction this year has intensified public outrage, with the recent storm exposing critical gaps in emergency preparedness.

The storm’s onset was forecasted by AEMET, Spain’s meteorological agency, which issued an orange alert for 20mm/h rain and hail. The warning came early, but locals claim mobile alerts were delayed, leaving many drivers stranded, especially on the AP-7 highway. Valencia’s Emergency Coordination Centre scrambled to respond, deploying over 1,000 troops to clear debris and manage the disaster’s aftermath. Despite these efforts, the damage was extensive, with many areas hit by hail, including Guadasséquies, Calles, Villar del Arzobispo, and l’Olleria, all of which experienced extreme weather.

In l’Olleria, located in Vall d’Albaida, 37.7 liters per square meter of rain fell in just 20 minutes, accompanied by wind gusts reaching nearly 80 km/h. Other towns also reported substantial rainfall: Roseel saw 61.2 liters per square meter, l’Alcora recorded 47.4 liters, and l’Orxa followed with 46.4 liters. These extreme conditions hit northern Valencia, with the worst storms reported in Pedralba, Casinos, and Bugarra, where large hail and powerful winds intensified the damage.

Meteorological officials indicated that a particularly strong storm developed between the Serranía and Camp de Turia regions, which had a high potential for severe weather, including large hail. The storm moved slowly southeastward, deviating from the typical eastward direction of surrounding systems. Experts suggested that this deviation could be indicative of a cyclonic supercell, a type of storm known for its ability to alter its trajectory, making it difficult to predict and prepare for.

As the storm moved towards the sea, Valencia Airport reported heavy rain, while the Valencia Provincial Fire Department responded to multiple emergencies. These included potential fires caused by lightning strikes in Sueca and Paterna, as well as calls to clear hail from roads in l’Olleria and attend to a flooded tunnel in Xàtiva. The Valencian community’s emergency response systems were stretched thin, with 1-1-2 emergency services handling numerous storm-related cases, especially in Xàtiva and Villar del Arzobispo.

In light of these dire circumstances, Valencia’s City Council took precautionary measures by closing parks and gardens and suspending outdoor activities. Additionally, cemeteries were closed for safety, and authorities urged the public to stay indoors during the ongoing storm. Despite these measures, the region remains on edge, especially after the traumatic memories of the DANA disaster, which exposed severe shortcomings in preparedness and response.

The 2024 DANA catastrophe remains fresh in the minds of many in the region, with its far-reaching effects still being felt. Over 2,000 people remain displaced, according to the Valencia Housing Department, while insurance payouts of €741 million have only begun to cover the staggering losses. Despite the presence of European experts in flood response at a simulation event just one day before this year’s storm, the lingering scars from the DANA disaster highlight how far the region still has to go in terms of preparedness.

Critics argue that the efforts to improve flood response are not enough. The Valencian government’s decision to dismantle the €9 million Emergencies Unit in 2023, which was deemed “superfluous,” has drawn heavy criticism. The system’s failure during the 2024 disaster, when warnings came too late to save many towns like Chiva or Catarroja, exacerbated the sense of frustration among the public. Emergency technicians, who struggled to get alerts out in time, blamed the delay on the region’s leadership. Paiporta’s mayor echoed the sentiment, expressing that the community had been abandoned by the authorities during a critical time. For many survivors, this failure has led to a loss of trust in the government’s ability to handle such emergencies effectively.

In the wake of this year’s storm, as heavy rain continues to fall, the people of Valencia are demanding more than just post-storm summits and promises. They seek action that can save lives, rather than more excuses that leave them vulnerable. The situation has intensified public pressure on the Valencian government to implement a more robust emergency management system. With the region again under orange alerts, both locals and expats living from Alicante to Benidorm hold their breath, hoping that this time the authorities will act swiftly enough to avoid another disaster.

As the storm subsides, the scars left by both the May 6th storm and the lingering effects of the 2024 DANA disaster will take time to heal. The people of Valencia, still haunted by the tragic events of last year, are calling for real solutions that can ensure their safety in the face of increasingly erratic weather. The region’s experience has underscored the urgent need for more reliable early-warning systems, better coordination in times of crisis, and, above all, a government that is willing to prioritize the safety of its citizens over bureaucratic concerns. Only then will the people of Valencia feel confident that they are truly prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.