Joshua Parfitt
THE Clariano river yesterday burst its bank in the Alicante town of Ontinyent, trashing houses and ruining cars.
More than 400 l/m² of rain was recorded in a two-day period, with at least 40 residents on Calle Cantereria evacuated to safety.
The following roads were also closed following the deluge: CV 655, CV 650, Avinguda Tèxtil, Camí Vell de Xàtiva, Cantereria, Carril, Altet a Clariana and Camí Vell d’Agullent.
A video shows the devastating flooding caused to the Cantereria neighbourhood in Ontinyent.
Narrating the video in Valenciano, a man says: “It has never rained like this ever in my life, I fear how it will look when this is over.
“What horror. Poor people.”
By 11pm, the river had reduced to an extent allowing firemen into the ruined houses bordering the river.
But this only confirmed the devastation.
“There is nothing left inside the houses. It is devastating to see the destruction it has caused,” said the Ontinyent Councillor for Municipal Services, Manuel Cuesta.
“I don’t even have spare clothes; I’ve lost everything,” Mari Carmen Debón, an Ontinyent resident, told El Mundo.
“This is a working-class neighbourhood.
“I’ve been here all my life and I have never seen this. It’s a disaster.”
Ontinyent has today received visits from the president of the Generalitat, Ximo Puig, and the president of the Diputación de Valencia, Toni Gaspar.
