The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Brits planning a trip to Spain following severe flooding in the popular European holiday destination. At least 95 people have sadly died after torrential rain sparked flooding in some parts of the country this week.
The Foreign Office warned: “Severe weather and flooding is affecting many areas of Southern and Eastern Spain, particularly the Valencia region and Castilla La Mancha. Journeys may be affected. Check the latest weather warnings from Spain’s meteorological office before you travel and follow instructions from local authorities.”
The heavy downpours that began earlier this week have led to catastrophic flooding, resulting in at least 95 fatalities, marking it the deadliest flood event in the nation since 1973. Defence minister Margarita Robles told Cadena Ser radio station that a military unit specialised in rescue operations would on Thursday start combing through the mud and debris with sniffer dogs in the worst-hit areas, as reported by Birmingham Live.
With weather forecasters issuing warnings beforehand, such tragedies are “entirely avoidable” if people can be kept away from surging flood water, said Hannah Cloke, hydrology professor at the University of Reading. The devastating outcome suggests Valencia’s warning system failed, she said. “People just don’t know what to do when faced with a flood, or when they hear warnings.
“People shouldn’t be dying from these kinds of forecasted weather events in countries where they have the resources to do better,” added Liz Stephens, a professor in climate risks and resilience at the University of Reading. “We have a long way to go to prepare for this kind of event, and worse, in future.”
Such extreme weather “can overwhelm the ability of existing defences and contingency plans to cope, even in a relatively wealthy country like Spain”, said Leslie Mabon, senior lecturer in environmental systems at Britain’s Open University. “The floods in Spain are a timely reminder that no country is exempt from the risks of climate change.”