Four Dead as Storm Adam Triggers Deadly Floods Across Eastern Spain

Torrential rains from Storm Adam have battered eastern Spain, resulting in four fatalities, widespread flooding, and significant disruption. The severe downpour caused rivers to burst their banks, transforming streets into torrents and leading authorities to order approximately 100 municipalities to remain indoors for safety.

In the Valencia region, rescue efforts were intensified as security forces conducted over 400 operations by air and land. Two bodies were discovered in the town of Oliva: a 79-year-old woman in her home and a man who suffered a fatal heart attack at a campsite. Another body was found washed ashore in Sagunto, and a woman died after falling into a swollen stream in Cabrera de Mar, near Barcelona.

The town of Els Poblets, northeast of Alicante, experienced devastating scenes as cars and vans were piled atop one another by the force of the water. Residents described the situation as a disaster, with many losing possessions they had recovered from similar floods in the past.

National weather agency AEMET reported exceptional rainfall totals, with Pego in Alicante province recording 632 mm in 36 hours, and several locations in southern Valencia and northern Alicante exceeding 500 mm in the same period. The agency issued red alerts, advising residents to avoid travel and seek higher ground.

At the peak of the storm, an estimated 800,000 residents were under shelter-in-place orders, a number that later decreased to 87,000. More than 2,000 people were evacuated, primarily in Oliva, with nearly 100 rescues carried out in Valencia and Alicante. In Pego, the mayor reported that some residents were awaiting helicopter evacuation from their rooftops, as all access routes to the town were blocked, hindering even heavy-duty military vehicles.

Emergency services worked to rescue trapped residents, including elderly individuals found with waist-deep water in their homes, some resorting to standing on furniture for safety. While the heaviest rains began to ease, they caused extensive damage to infrastructure. Classes were suspended for over 100,000 students in the Valencia region, and both military and national police emergency units were deployed to assist.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pledged the government's full support, stating that military emergency units were aiding in rescue and evacuation efforts. The storm's focus was expected to shift towards Catalonia, with provinces like Barcelona and Girona anticipating significant rainfall.

Authorities warned that the risk was amplified by already saturated soil from previous storms. Elsewhere, southern France also experienced heavy rains and flooding, with seven departments under orange alert. Arles recorded record rainfall, and several roads were closed in the Nîmes and Montpellier areas, while tram lines were suspended in Marseille.