12 Nov, 2024 @ 15:27
1 min read

Flood-ravaged Valencia prepares for another dreaded DANA amid orange alerts for heavy rain

Destroyed cars and rubble are seen piled in the streets as a consequence of the floods. More than 200 people were killed in flash floods that affected the area around Valencia, particularly the towns of Paiporta, Sedavì, and Benatusser, in what is considered the worst natural disaster in Spain's history and one of the worst in Europe history. The floods were caused by an atmospheric phenomenon known as Dana. With many bodies still under the rubble, the number of victims is expected to rise. (Photo by Davide Bonaldo / SOPA Images/Sipa USA) *** Local Caption *** 57547756

VALENCIA is preparing for another DANA barely two weeks after the weather phenomenon left more than 200 people dead.

The towns worst hit by the flooding in late October are taking action after they were placed on an orange alert by state weather agency Aemet.

This includes closing schools, creating makeshift dams in ravines and working to unclog blocked sewage networks before the worst of the forecast deluge arrives.

The Emergency Coordination Centre (CEE) of the Generalitat Valenciana has recommended municipalities apply ‘preventive measures with advance notice’ ahead of ‘severe rain’.

Both the north and southern half of Valencia province are on an orange alert for rain on Wednesday, with up to 40mm falling per square metre in an hour, and up to 120mm over 12 hours.

Wednesday’s weather warnings for rain across Valencia and the Balearics

In a special announcement at 12:45pm Tuesday, the CEE warned of the impact of upcoming rainfall, adding that the province of Valencia remains on ’emergency level 2′ due to the devastaton caused by the previous storms.

Towns including Chiva, Aldaia, Sueca and Cullera have already closed schools and cancelled all municipal activities for Wednesday.

Volunteers who had planned to travel to the flood disaster zones have been asked to stay home.

This is to avoid clogging up roads or creating more traffic incidents in cases of flooding. It will also keep the route of emergency vehicles clearer.

In ‘ground zero’ towns like Catarroja, loudspeakers are being used to tell residents to avoid travel in the coming hours and to keep an eye on the sewer system.

In Rafelbunyol, vehicles must be removed from flood zones or streets that receive a large amount of water.

Laurence Dollimore

Laurence Dollimore is a Spanish-speaking, NCTJ-trained journalist with almost a decade’s worth of experience.
The London native has a BA in International Relations from the University of Leeds and and an MA in the same subject from Queen Mary University London.
He earned his gold star diploma in multimedia journalism at the prestigious News Associates in London in 2016, before immediately joining the Olive Press at their offices on the Costa del Sol.
After a five-year stint, Laurence returned to the UK to work as a senior reporter at the Mail Online, where he remained for two years before coming back to the Olive Press as Digital Editor in 2023.
He continues to work for the biggest newspapers in the UK, who hire him to investigate and report on stories in Spain.
These include the Daily Mail, Telegraph, Mail Online, Mail on Sunday and The Sun and Sun Online.
He has broken world exclusives on everything from the Madeleine McCann case to the anti-tourism movement in Tenerife.

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