Spain - tragic events

NoodleDoodleMan

I could hardly believe the news footage on TV, the devastation in many affected areas of the south east is absolutely horrific.

We gripe about our weather - but seeing the telly reports puts it all into perspective.

Thoughts and prayers etc.

mebu60

Daughter went out to see her mother and step-father there just over a week ago. Yesterday they had helicopters less than a mile away evacuating people. And more rain to come this weekend. They have emergency bags packed just in case but so far the surrounding farmland has taken the brunt of it. She's not due to return home until Wednesday by which time things will hopefully be calmer. Makes it all the more real with her being there. Not the last bit of summer warmth she was expecting before facing the Norwegian winter (she lives just north of Oslo). 

TELLIT01

I've just seen some videos of the area.  Absolutely terrifying.  My heart goes out to those affected.

daveyjp

A friend's wife is from Valencia and her parents still live out there, thankfully not in the affected area.

If you visit the city one of the structures you see when leaving the airport and drive into the city centre is a usually dry "riverbed", which is actually a manmade storm drain built when the river through the city was diverted.  The original river route is now a very long linear park with some amazing attractions.

The affected areas appear to be to the south of this new channel and the rivers in the area which were completely overwhelmed.  The scenes are very similar to those seen after the Asian Boxing Day and Japanese tsunamis and must have been terrifying to experience as it was just as quick.  10 minutes from first signs of water to it being metres deep.

NoodleDoodleMan

Indeed, the Valencia area has been very badly affected.

https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/national/24693490.spanish-residents-appeal-help-floods-leave-least-205-dead/

On the scale of a National Emergency level of gravity.

SiliconChip

It seems like the news is likely to get a lot worse before it gets better, I've seen a comment that suggests many of the swept away cars that have not yet been checked may still have their occupants inside, so the death toll could rise considerably.

strawb_shortcake

I saw a photo earlier that appeared to show a tunnel having the water pumped out, but the tunnel was blocked with crashed cars that I assume had been washed away.