In the small Valencian town of Utiel, the impact of torrential rains has been catastrophic, with at least six confirmed fatalities and extensive damage to homes and infrastructure.
On Tuesday morning, Miguel Aleixandre, a 22-year-old supermarket worker and competitive powerlifter, was at the gym when staff announced the facility’s closure due to the severe weather.
The situation escalated rapidly as the normally shallow Magro River transformed into a raging torrent, prompting Spain’s state meteorological office, Aemet, to issue a red alert warning residents to stay away from watercourses.
As the rains continued unabated, Aleixandre returned home to find the streets flooded with approximately 30 centimeters of water, which would soon rise to a staggering three meters.
He and his family sought refuge in the upper levels of their home, a decision that ultimately saved their lives.
Meanwhile, Inmaculada Haba experienced similar terror as water began seeping into her ground floor, prompting her to rescue her two dogs and retreat to safety.
Residents described scenes of devastation, with Fran Platero recounting his family’s harrowing five-hour entrapment before being rescued by a neighbor using a tractor.
The mayor praises community solidarity amid the devastation, with recovery efforts underway after the disaster.The flooding overwhelmed even those accustomed to heavy rains; Platero remarked that he had never witnessed anything of this magnitude before.
Tragically, many older residents who lived on lower floors were unable to escape.
Emergency responders have been working tirelessly to aid those affected, as the community grapples with the aftermath of the disaster.
Mayor Ricardo Gabaldón emphasized the importance of solidarity among residents, noting that the town’s response has been remarkable.
“People have been risking their lives saving others,” he said, expressing gratitude for the swift closure of schools before the flooding worsened.
The road to recovery will be long and arduous for the residents of Utiel, who now face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives amid the destruction.
As Aleixandre reflects on the night’s harrowing events, he notes, “This was all new for us, but the UME deals with disasters. They told us they’d never seen anything like this in Spain. Ever.”
The community remains resilient, and committed to rebuilding and supporting one another through these trying times.