In Spain, the area most affected by storm Dana begins the day with the state meteorological agency warning for “strong thunderstorms”. In fact, starting from 9am, the orange alert is in force on the north coast of Valencia and on the south coast. This was reported by the Spanish newspaper «El Pais». This morning the storms were concentrated in Murcia, but the orange alert is also active throughout the day for the coast of Castellon and Tarragona. On the rest of the Levante coast, from Ampurdan to the Levante of Almeria, there are yellow alerts. Meanwhile, the Generalitat Valenciana has published the ordinance that limits the movement and pedestrian access of people in twelve affected municipalities since the alarm could complicate the situation and facilitate emergency work. Today King Felipe VI and Letizia Ortiz will visit the areas affected by the floods, together with the president of the government, Pedro Sanchez, and the governor of the Valencia region, Carlos Mazon.
Over a thousand people are missing and it is not known how many of them can be found in the underground car park of the Bonaire shopping centre, in Aldaia, one of the largest in Valencia, where since Saturday they have been searching for survivors of one of the most terrible natural disasters in the history of ‘Europe. The toll, at the moment, speaks of 210 confirmed victims, but the number of untraceable people leaves us to fear the worst. The symbol of the tragedy is the car park of the Aldaida mall, where divers are trying to locate the cars and bodies still submerged under three meters of water and mud. The operations will take time, difficult to calculate how much. When the water arrived, the mall was operating at full capacity. It has a capacity of 5,700 parking spaces, both surface and underground, and the little-hidden fear is that, when the torrent of mud arrived, some customers may have tried to reach their cars in the underground section to leave.
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**Interview with Dr. Elena Vargas, Meteorologist and Disaster Response Expert**
**Editor:** Welcome, Dr. Vargas. Thank you for joining us today. The recent flooding in Valencia has been devastating, with reports indicating at least 95 fatalities. Can you explain what led to such extreme weather conditions?
**Dr. Vargas:** Thank you for having me. The flooding in Valencia was primarily caused by a powerful weather phenomenon known as a “medicane,” which is similar to a hurricane but occurs in the Mediterranean Sea. This storm brought an unprecedented amount of rain in a short period — really, an entire year’s worth in just one day in some areas. The combination of heavy rainfall and existing soil saturation from previous storms contributed to the catastrophic flooding we are witnessing.
**Editor:** That’s alarming. What kind of precautions and responses can local governments take when faced with such extreme weather events?
**Dr. Vargas:** Local governments should prioritize early warning systems and effective communication with residents. It’s essential to have well-defined emergency plans that include evacuation routes and shelters. The coordination between meteorological agencies and emergency services must be seamless to ensure timely responses. In situations like this, as we see with the ongoing alerts in Valencia, controlling access to affected areas is crucial for both safety and effective emergency management.
**Editor:** Speaking of emergency management, King Felipe VI and other officials are visiting the affected areas. How important is the presence of leadership during such crises?
**Dr. Vargas:** Leadership presence plays a significant role not only in boosting morale but also in reinforcing the message that the government is committed to recovery efforts. It helps bring attention to the needs of affected communities and can lead to faster mobilization of resources. Symbolic gestures like these also foster a sense of solidarity among citizens, which is important in the aftermath of such tragedies.
**Editor:** With climate change becoming an increasingly pressing issue, what can we expect for future weather patterns in regions like Valencia?
**Dr. Vargas:** We are likely to see more frequent and intense weather events as climate change continues to escalate. This includes extreme rainfall, heatwaves, and even droughts. Areas like Valencia, which are already vulnerable to flooding, may need to invest in improved infrastructure and sustainable urban planning to mitigate these risks. Adaptation strategies will be vital for minimizing the impact of future disasters.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Dr. Vargas. Our thoughts are with those affected in Valencia during this tragic time.
**Dr. Vargas:** Thank you. It’s important we support the affected communities and work towards better preparedness for the future.
