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Storm Adam Kills Four as 450 Rescued in Valencia

By Drooid · Oct 20, 2026, 6:23 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Storm Adam Floods

Storm Adam dumped 700 litres per square metre, causing deadly flooding in Spain’s Valencia region.
Four people died, two in Oliva, one in Sagunto, and one in Catalonia.
Emergency crews rescued over 450 residents, many airlifted from rooftops and flooded cars.
Security forces performed more than 400 rescues in Valencia and about 100 in Alicante.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pledged full support and sent military emergency units to aid rescues.

Summary

Spain Faces Flood Crisis

AVA-Asaja reports flood damage to over 8,000 hectares of crops and farming infrastructure.
Over 100,000 pupils stayed home as schools closed in the Valencian Community and Balearic islands.
Twenty-three highways in Valencia and four roads in Córdoba and Sevilla stayed flooded, halting traffic.
The EU Floods Directive, requiring Spain to assess risks and plan management, faces scrutiny after the storm.

History

Historical Context

The 14 October 1957 flood of Valencia, caused by a three-day cold drop and killing at least 81 people, prompted Franco’s regime to approve the Plan Sur, rerouting the Turia River through a 12-km channel built 1964-1973. That engineering legacy underlies today’s 2024 Storm Adam floods, which again test the EU Floods Directive and regional emergency plans.

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Storm Adam Floods

Storm Adam dumped 700 litres per square metre, causing deadly flooding in Spain’s Valencia region.
Four people died, two in Oliva, one in Sagunto, and one in Catalonia.
Emergency crews rescued over 450 residents, many airlifted from rooftops and flooded cars.
Security forces performed more than 400 rescues in Valencia and about 100 in Alicante.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pledged full support and sent military emergency units to aid rescues.

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