In brief
The town of Cadaqués in Spain's Girona region experienced additional flash floods that swept away around 30 vehicles, although no injuries were reported. This follows a devastating week of flooding that resulted in over 200 fatalities, prompting criticism of the authorities for delays in emergency alerts. As the weather worsens, increased rainfall warnings have been issued, blaming climate change for the intensity of the ongoing crisis.
New floods have struck the town of Cadaqués in the Girona region of northeastern Spain, sweeping away approximately 30 cars according to local news reports. Dramatic footage captured by a journalist showcased torrents of water surging down streets and a mass of vehicles piling up under a bridge early Friday morning. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.This latest flood follows a disastrous week for Spain, where more than 200 people lost their lives, predominantly in the Valencia area, making it one of Europe’s most catastrophic flooding events this century. Public outrage has erupted over the failure of authorities to issue timely emergency alerts, fueling concerns about preparedness.In Cadaqués, the Catalonia fire service confirmed that the flash floods had caused significant obstruction, yet miraculously, no individuals were harmed or trapped. However, officials are on high alert as forecasters predict potential severe weather throughout Friday night. Catalonia's meteorological service has since issued a rain warning effective from Friday evening through Saturday afternoon, particularly for the Alt Emporda area encompassing Cadaqués. They cautioned that rain accumulation could exceed 20 mm (0.7 inches) within a mere 30 minutes.Weather data gathered by the Spanish meteorological agency, Aemet, indicates that Spain has experienced a 72% increase in precipitation from October 1 to November 5 this year, significantly above the historical averages for this period. Experts attribute the extraordinary rainfall and subsequent flash floods to the exacerbating effects of climate change, causing sudden and dangerous scenarios that have left many vehicles stranded and people trapped in their cars.As Spain grapples with this ongoing crisis, the latest round of flooding serves as a stark reminder of the pressing need for effective emergency response strategies, especially against the backdrop of an anticipated increase in extreme weather events.
