2024-10-31 21:34:00
Mariana Cabral He was shocked like never before. At eight o’clock in the evening, her and her boyfriend’s cell phones suddenly rang with a sound they had never heard before. A legend from the Barcelona city council immediately appeared and announced that they were advised not to leave their homes due to weather warnings.
It was Tuesday, and the young woman was even more surprised That intrusive feeling that has city hall buzzing on your phone as heavy rain threatens to swallow everything. The problem is that in the center of Valencia, this phenomenon destroyed homes and cars and claimed many lives, but it was not nearly as powerful as a major storm. That It isolated them and left them with a sad message: they became the quiet core of a territory destroyed by the forces of nature.
Mariana’s alert on her phone
“We immediately turned on the TV and saw what was happening. The flooded areas and the horrific images that were circulating were from the periphery. Where I live, luckily nothing happened, but we were isolated and out of touch because all the routes and roads were destroyed,” the 32-year-old said.
“Marian” is Graphic designer from Neuquen, living in Spain since March. He received his degree in 2018, applied for dual citizenship and passed Italy, then chose She fell in love with that Spanish city because it was a “Mecca” for foreignerspromising 300 days of sunshine each year.
Streets flooded, just a small part of Spain’s experience
“That’s the thing, that’s why when it rains, which is not very often, they tend to be intense days. But There is no such thing. 4 hours later, it rained all year long. The river overflowed and took everything with it.
At his home, while still surprised by his phone alarm, an alarm went off, something he had never heard before. After seeing her first images of the tragedy, she traveled to her native Argentina and to the city of La Plata, which was flooded on April 2, 2013. The remaining 89 people died.
“I was there when it happened. That’s why it happened It brings back that memory, even though it’s obviously much worse,” he shared with Leo Negro.
Where they now live, they all trace their roots back even further. they went “The Flood of 1957”was destroyed by fire for his excesses. At that time, the middle and lower reaches of the Turia River flooded, and the city was in chaos.
«My boyfriend is Spanish and luckily none of his relatives are affected– continues the designer – In my case, now my sister and brother-in-law (who are in Germany) live in this area of Valencia, so they are as safe as I am. but “We still receive calls and messages from Argentina to see if we are okay,” he said.
React quickly when seeing first footage and news The girl was named Neuquén so that her parents and her feelings for Patagonia would not be alarmed..
Young woman from Neuquén, photo taken in front of DANA
Now she feels like a war refugee because the center of Valencia is like an inaccessible island where people who provide services to businesses cannot leave due to the risks and cannot be accessed by land.
«There is nothing left in the supermarket. After the first alert, everyone went out to look for supplies, but the gondola was still empty,” he said.
Meanwhile, in the city, various hypotheses are being woven. many They believe the authorities should have acted faster and spent more time alerting people to a phenomenon that has claimed many lives. This also includes people who are still missing.
What is “high-level isolating depression (HID)”?
What happens is called “Advanced Isolation Depression (DANA).” This occurs when a large amount of cold air is isolated and circulates at extremely high altitudes, away from the atmosphere. Its encounter with warm air can produce heavy rains and extreme weather events.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty right now. They say the rain will keep falling. And the pain of those who have lost everything, Or those who have friends or family they know nothing about. The death toll continues to rise, as does the list of missing persons.
I also experienced situations that were difficult to understand. With almost no rain falling in the center of Valencia the day after the tragedy, many people went out to work at the request of their bosses, who demanded a return to normal, despite the warning still in effect. “Everything was very chaotic,” Mariana said.
Now, Valencia is enveloped in a tense calm; Groups come together to seek help for those who have lost everything. “This is very sad,” Neuquina concluded.
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Still facing the aftermath of the devastation. The public outcry has been growing, demanding accountability from local government officials who reportedly failed to provide adequate warnings and timely evacuation plans as the floodwaters rose.
Marian expressed her frustration, noting, “It feels like we were caught off-guard. The warnings came too late, and by then, it was already too dangerous for many to leave.” The psychological impact of being isolated during such a crisis weighs heavily on those in her community, recalling how difficult it has been to reach loved ones and ensure that everyone is safe.
As emergency services continue to work around the clock to assist those in affected areas, most of the community remains hopeful but anxious. The memories of past floods linger in the minds of residents, and the fear of experiencing similar devastation again is palpable.
“After experiencing floods in my own country, I thought I had left that behind when I moved here,” Marian reflected. “But now, living through this in a foreign land has been even more challenging. It makes you appreciate the little things—like having reliable communication and access to food.”
The disaster has sparked discussions about climate change and urban planning in areas prone to severe weather events. Locals wonder if more sustainable practices could have mitigated the severity of this flooding, as many of the city’s drainage systems were breached.
As recovery efforts begin, the solidarity among residents is evident, with many offering support to one another and sharing resources where possible. “We might be isolated right now, but we are not alone,” Marian affirmed. “It reminds me of home—the sense of community that springs into action when disaster strikes.”
Though the floodwaters have caused devastation, they have also united people across distances, creating a shared mission of resilience and recovery. For Marian, the journey forward will not only involve rebuilding physically but also recovering emotionally from the trauma of the flood experience. “We will get through this together,” she vowed, drawing strength from the solidarity and hope that flourishes even in the darkest of times.
