Natural disasters characterized by raging waters have left an indelible mark on Spain, defining eras and forging the identity of cities and regions. For centuries, episodes of torrential rains and flooding have challenged human ability to anticipate and respond to disasters. Each new flood that ravages a region revives old wounds and generates new stories of survival, solidarity, and resignation. This tour invites you to discover in depth the most serious flood episodes that have hit our country., from medieval times to the dramatic events of the present century.
The Mediterranean climate, geographical location, human activity, and extreme weather patterns have woven a history of floods, inundations, and flooding that has changed the lives of thousands of families over the centuries. Delving into these events not only helps to understand the scope of each calamity, but also They provide clues about how Spanish society has evolved in the face of the constant threat of water..
Why are floods so frequent in Spain?
Spain, especially its Mediterranean and southern peninsular regions, is highly prone to episodes of intense rainfall that lead to severe flooding. There are several natural and human causes that explain this vulnerability:
- Mediterranean climate It alternates long dry periods with sudden rains, usually in autumn, which can accumulate the amount of water for an entire year in a very short time.
- Geography and orography They cause rivers and ravines to travel along steep slopes in a short space, emptying into densely populated areas.
- Accelerated urbanization and the occupation of high-risk areas (ramblas, vegas and flood plains) prevent the natural absorption of water and Damage increases when floods arrive.
- Climate change problematic aggravates the problem, making extreme events more frequent and increasing uncertainty about its intensity and location.
This cocktail of factors explains that Much of Spanish history and territorial planning has revolved around the fear and management of floods.The devastation of crops, infrastructure and homes, as well as the loss of human lives, have conditioned the culture and development of many regions.
What is a floodplain and why is it at the root of so many water disasters?
The Isolated High-Level Depression (DANA), also commonly known as the "gota fría" (cold drop), is a meteorological phenomenon responsible for many of the worst flooding episodes in contemporary Spain. It occurs when a mass of very cold air becomes isolated in the upper layers of the atmosphere and comes into contact with warm, humid air close to the ground, often amplified by the high temperatures of the Mediterranean Sea.
The interaction of these air masses can generate storms of enormous virulence and extremely intense rainfall in just a few hours. DANAs are most common during the months of September and October, coinciding with the end of summer and the accumulated heat at sea.
In autumn, when a DANA is located over the southeast of the peninsula or the Mediterranean arc, it almost always causes extreme weather warnings. and, on more than one occasion, has triggered some of the deadliest catastrophes in Spanish hydrological history.
A comprehensive review of the most serious floods: chronicle and consequences
The list of catastrophic floods is as extensive as the diversity of Spain's geography. Historical archives, popular memory, and official records allow us to reconstruct the most dramatic chapters, from the Middle Ages to the present day. This section lists the most significant events in chronological order, including precise data on fatalities, material damage, and meteorological contexts.
From the Middle Ages to Modernity: The First Documented River Disasters
The first major floods recorded in historical treatises and documentary archives take us back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Some of the most notable were:
- Great Flood of 1259: The Segura and Guadalentín rivers overflowed, devastating the Murcian orchards and destroying the hydraulic infrastructure of the time, such as the Contraparada.
- Salamanca Flood, 1626: On January 26, the Tormes River burst its banks in Salamanca, killing 142 people and destroying several historic structures, including the iconic Roman Bridge, which lost ten of its arches.
- 16th-18th centuries: The historical databases contain dozens of references to floods in the Segura, Guadalentín, Argos, Mula, Quípar, and other basins. Many of these floods ultimately devastated neighborhoods, entire towns, and large agricultural areas. Some chapters stand out for the number of houses destroyed or the magnitude of the losses.
- San Calixto Flood (1651): Major flooding in Murcia, with more than 1.000 homes destroyed and more than 1.000 deaths, following the simultaneous flooding of the Guadalentín, Segura, Mula, and Lorca rivers.
- San Severo Flood (1653): Another tragedy in Murcia and Lorca, considered even worse than the previous one, with a thousand dead and two thousand homes ruined.
- Santa Teresa Flood (1879): One of the largest floods of the 1.000th century devastated Murcia and Orihuela, causing the deaths of nearly XNUMX people (although figures vary between sources), destroying tens of thousands of homes and ruining crops and livestock.
These episodes, with detailed accounts of the devastation, motivated the first hydraulic defense plans and the construction of infrastructure to minimize damage in subsequent floods.
The 19th century and the consolidation of historical records
The 19th century was particularly destructive in terms of floods and inundations, with regional archives and chroniclers of the time accurately documenting the damage and casualties. Some of the most outstanding events were:
- Almería Flood, 1891: On September 11, torrential rains caused a flash flood that swept away the Almería estuary and other areas in the southeast, resulting in more than XNUMX deaths and virtually total destruction of crops and bridges in the province.
- San Jacinto Flood, 1891: Severe flooding in the Guadalentín basin, with significant material and human damage, particularly affecting agricultural areas in the south.
- Flood of Lorca, 1802: The collapse of the Puentes reservoir dam left more than 600 dead and destroyed homes and crops.
- San Amos Flood, 1894: Heavy rains in the Segura basin between March and April, with floods that broke dikes and bridges and left large agricultural areas between Murcia and Orihuela underwater.
- Repeated floods in the Segura: The 19th century was marked by episodes of rain that, in many cases, devastated the fragile agricultural economy and the scarce water-protection infrastructure.
The 20th Century: Documented Tragedies and the Beginning of Defense Engineering
With the advancement of meteorology and engineering, the 20th century was equally marked by catastrophic episodes, but it also marked the beginning of measures to protect populations and reduce casualties. However, the frequency and intensity of flooding remained alarming.
The Valencia disaster of 1957: a before and after
The great flood of Valencia, on October 14, 1957, is one of the most memorable episodes in the history of flooding in Spain. Torrential rainfall caused the Turia River to overflow its banks and flooded the Valencian capital with up to five meters of water in some areas. The toll was devastating: 81 dead, thousands homeless, and the city center plunged into mud, chaos, and material destruction.
The magnitude of the disaster forced a rethinking of urban planning in Valencia and, after the drama, the famous South Plan, which diverted the Turia River away from the urban center and prevent similar disasters in the future. This project marked a milestone in civil engineering and urban hydrological risk management in Spain.
The Vallés flood in 1962: the worst modern natural disaster
The Vallés region in Barcelona witnessed the deadliest flood in contemporary Spain. On September 25, 1962, a DANA generated torrential rains that reached over 250 liters per square meter in just a few hours. The sudden flooding of the Llobregat and Besós rivers devastated entire municipalities, such as Tarrasa, Rubí, Sabadell, Sant Quirze del Vallès and Cerdanyola.
The death toll is uncertain, as official counts and figures reported in the press vary. The figures range from 600 and 1.000 deaths, making this flood the worst hydrological disaster in Spain's recent history. In addition to the dead, thousands were injured, families lost everything, and an economic toll reaching several billion pesetas at the time.
The hydraulic tragedy of Murcia and Orihuela in 1879 and 1973
The Segura and Guadalentín basins have historically been among the hardest hit by heavy rainfall. Two episodes stand out especially for their severity and social consequences:
- Santa Teresa Flood (1879): already mentioned, is considered the worst documented tragedy in Murcia and Orihuela, with estimates exceeding 1.000 dead, thousands of homes destroyed and the virtual disappearance of crops and livestock.
- Flood of October 19, 1973: Granada, Murcia, Almería, and Alicante were particularly affected. Up to 600 liters per square meter were collected in some places, such as Zúrgena (Almería) and Albuñol (Granada). Municipalities such as Puerto Lumbreras were completely devastated, with hundreds dead and dozens missing.
These episodes developed the emergency protocol and the beginning of modern hydrological planning, but they also highlighted the enormous vulnerability of many rural and agricultural areas.
The Tous dam failure (1982): the 'swamp' that swept everything away
On October 20, 1982, after days of torrential rain, the Tous Dam on the Júcar River burst, releasing an uncontrollable flow that devastated towns and crops in the Valencian Ribera region. Official figures indicate 30 to 40 deaths, although the impact on infrastructure and the economy was colossal. Pope John Paul II, then visiting Spain, visited the affected areas to hold a moving act of solidarity.
The Tous flood is a prime example of what happens when a combination of extreme rainfall and poor dam engineering or management triggers an unprecedented catastrophe.
The Biescas campsite (1996): the tragedy of a truncated vacation
On August 7, 1996, a violent storm in the Huesca Pyrenees caused a flash flood in the Arás ravine, completely destroying the Las Nieves campsite. The wave of water, mud and stones swept away trees, vehicles and tents, causing the death of 87 people and the injured of about 200 more.
The incident shocked Spanish society and prompted a rethinking of legislation and safety protocols for campsites and recreational areas located in flood-prone areas.
Other notable episodes of the 20th century: floods, DANAs and local catastrophes
- Malaga flood, 1907: An avalanche of water and mud, following heavy rains in the Guadalmedina basin, left 21 dead in the city.
- Vega de Tera Dam, 1959: The sudden collapse of this dam in Ribadelago (Zamora) left more than 140 dead and the entire town devastated.
- Bilbao floods, 1983: The Nervión estuary flooded to a height of five meters in the heart of the city, leaving 34 dead and dozens missing.
- Albuñol and Gandía flood, 1987: DANAs in the Valencian Community brought extreme rainfall and the highest levels of historical rainfall in several locations.
The 21st Century: New Catastrophes and the Persistent Challenge of DANAs
Far from diminishing, the risk and severity of flooding have increased over the past two decades, particularly due to climate change and uncontrolled urbanization. We review the most representative cases:
Mallorca, October 2018: devastation in Sant Llorenç and surrounding area
On October 9, 2018, a DANA dumped 220 liters per square meter in a few hours over the Mallorcan Levante. The result was a flood that devastated towns such as Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, claiming the lives of 13 peopleThe image of Rafael Nadal, a local resident, bailing out water alongside the victims went viral around the world.
Storm Gloria, January 2020: multiple hazards and thirteen deaths
Between January 19 and 20, 2020, Storm Gloria brought torrential rains, hurricane-force winds, and snow, especially to the provinces of Alicante and Valencia. 13 fatalities, extensive damage to crops and coastal infrastructure, and the declaration of red level in several regions.
September 2019 Flood: The Santa Maria Flood
In September 2019, an extraordinary DANA devastated Mediterranean communities, with historic rainfall records in Orihuela (520,8 mm), Jacarilla (396,4 mm) and Albujón (308,7 mm). 8 deceased, thousands evacuated and damage of such magnitude that reconstruction is still continuing in some municipalities.
The October 2024 DANA: Record number of fatalities and rainfall in recent history
October 29, 2024, will be remembered as the most severe flooding event in the history of Spain in the XNUMXst century. An extraordinary DANA (storm) dumped record-breaking rainfall, reaching 770 mm in Turís (Valencia) in less than five hours, and values exceeding 500 liters per square meter in numerous towns in the Levante region.
In this event it is estimated that More than 220 people died throughout the Mediterranean region, especially in Valencia, Murcia, Cuenca, and Albacete. Massive flooding occurred, infrastructure collapsed, roads were impassable, and dozens of towns were isolated. Thousands of residents had to be evacuated, many of them after spending the night on the roofs of cars and homes.
At the level of economic impact, The losses have been valued at more than 13.000 billion euros., making this episode the most expensive natural disaster in the country's history.
Other episodes of the 21st century
- Levant floods, 2016: Between December 16 and 19, rainfall exceeding 600 liters per square meter caused deaths and serious damage in the Valencian Community, Murcia, Almería, and the Balearic Islands.
- Repeated DANAs in the Segura basin: They have caused massive floods, millions in damage, and dozens of evacuees in Murcia, Albacete, and Alicante.
- Biescas, 1996: Although already mentioned, it remains an example of preventive reforms in the face of flooding in mountain areas.
The social, economic and environmental impact of major floods
Floods in Spain produce effects that transcend the material and the immediate. In addition to human lives, the following are affected:
- Critical infrastructures (bridges, roads, power grids, railways and water systems).
- The displacement of families, with lasting psychological and social impacts.
- Losses in agriculture and livestock, affecting the local economy and food security.
- Ecological impacts on soils, aquifers, erosion and river and coastal ecosystems.
Rural, peripheral, and slum areas in floodplains and boulevards are the most vulnerable, as their precarious conditions exacerbate their vulnerability to flooding. Therefore, prevention, education, and risk management are key to reducing the impact and saving lives.
Lessons learned: engineering, coordination and culture of prevention
History shows that need to improve water engineering and social response to floodsAfter each disaster, the following have been promoted:
- Hydraulic defense works: Channels, dams, weirs, drainage systems and diversion channels.
- Emergency and early warning plans: Prediction, protocols, drills, and improved inter-institutional coordination.
- Urban planning regulations and territorial plans: River bans, promotion of flood-prone areas, and a culture of self-protection.
- Insurance and compensation: The role of the Insurance Consortium is to assist in reconstruction and mitigate economic damage.
However, climate change, uncontrolled urban growth, and infrastructure deficiencies hamper these advances and keep many communities vulnerable.
Testimonies and stories: the human dimension of water tragedies
Behind every statistic are stories of suffering, solidarity, and recovery. Examples are:
- The heroic work of firefighters, emergency medical units (EMUs), and security forces in rescues and evacuations.
- People trapped on rooftops, farmers losing crops in minutes, and families in temporary shelters or in their vehicles.
- Towns like Ribadelago and Puerto Lumbreras, which after being submerged in water, have managed to rise again thanks to collective efforts.
- The creation of flood-prone parks, such as the new Turia River channel in Valencia, which combines protection and green spaces.
Future prospects and challenges
Flooding in Spain will continue to be a major challenge. The memory of the past, scientific advancements, and infrastructure have saved lives and reduced damage, but risks persist: the unpredictability of the climate, the vulnerability of many areas, and the magnitude of natural disasters and extreme rainfall. The key is to continue evolving in prevention, education, and adaptation in a changing environment.