Rain yesterday
 

OMG...the worse rains ever last night. Absolutely biblical. Albacete at the moment looks unbelievable. The national government are calling emergency meeting today. The videos being shown are simply beyond imagination.
300 litres per sq metre in 5 hours!!!! Is this climate change ??

Re: Rain yesterday
 

I hope you are OK and have not had any damage - our forecast was terrible (north Alicante) but think we dodged a bullet.

And this morning sun is shining and we are going hill walking.

Re: Rain yesterday
 

It is all over the news at the moment. 13 dead apparently with still people missing. The images they are showing look like Hollywood disaster movies. The people in the care home with the water over the knees is hard to believe it isn't fake!!

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Just saw some vides on Facebook - raging torrents...scary. Not seen the care home...

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Not seen the care home one either. So many videos on FB, frightening to see so much damage being caused, so many dying and others lost. We almost always have heavy rains in October causing huge areas to be flooded but I do not think that I have ever seen so many areas being affected before. Schools closed today. My doctors surgery sent out messages cancelling jabs and appointments because they are closed too. I seemed to get messages from the town hall every few minutes last night.

Rosemary

Re: Rain yesterday
 

51 deaths but feared more!!! How absolutely terrible.

Re: Rain yesterday
 

I saw a report about the 51 dead, it said in Valencia. Many more areas have had deaths and lost people. So sad. As you said, the fear is that the final death toll will be large.

Rosemary

Re: Rain yesterday
 

The largest rainfall in 12 hours this century.

Re: Rain yesterday
 

I did not realise that. More to come in the next few days, hopefully a lot less than what we have had. The clean up will cost an awful lot but the biggest loss to families are the people who died in this terrible event.

Rosemary

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Just been watching the news - dreadful, commiserations to all affected.

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Commiserations from me too. We are east of Malaga and I have never seen so much rain. The night before last we had neverending lighting and the local storm tracking website recorded over 1,000 lightning strikes which we have never seen before.

We are off to our place in Portugal tomorrow and will take a look at the reservoir in Vinuela en route to see how much it has filled up. Hopefully Portugal will not be too badly affected.

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Now it is moving towards Andalucía where they are warning it could be worse. Images showing Jerez flooding. The expat community doesn't seem to aware what is happening as coverage appears to be slow.

Re: Rain yesterday
 

No excuse for the expat community to not be aware. Plenty of information all over the internet. My goodness one of my daughters saw it on the UK news so it is well and truly known about.

Rosemary

Re: Rain yesterday
 

I mean now. There are warnings now over towards Andalucía and up north near Barcelona. Telling people to stay inside not to travel and giving phone numbers.

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Problem is that people will look out of the window and see blue skies and the sun and decide (incorrectly) that the storms are not in their area and will then ignore all of the warning about staying home.

Rosemary

Re: Rain yesterday
 

I doubt many people are quite that inane and I equally doubt anyone is looking out at blue skies.

Information is very good and our local weather station is reliable and up to date as always.

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Yesterday there was a break in the storms and the skies turned blue so people could have been lulled into thinking that maybe it was over but then it started fiercely again. There was plenty of information leading up to the rain and during it telling people to avoid leaving the house yet there are videos of cars being driven through deep water with the person taking the video stating how stupid that was. My WhatsApp pinged constantly yesterday with messages from the town hall, the local police and the Guardia Civil so adding that to the local weather station meant that the info was there for people.

Rosemary

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Latest info is over 70 deaths and dozens missing. So, so sad.

I noticed on FB that there is a way of registering that you are safe.

Rosemary

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Just had a message from our town hall (they are using WhatsApp communities now) that there will be a minutes silence tomorrow at 12:00 outside the town hall.

A truly appalling disaster and there but for the grace of God....

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Not heard from mine yet but that is what we usually do too.

Rosemary

Re: Rain yesterday
 

YES

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Just watched news. British woman has died in Malaga. Taken to hospital but died from hypothermia.

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Tele 5 are covering this at the moment. Talking to people, gaining their horror stories, their loses, their missing family members and the lack of electricity, food and drink.

Rosemary

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Here is the message on the FB Valencia group.

https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...1/16/1f5a4.png From today, October 31st we begin three days of official mourning.
https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/e...1/16/1f198.png The natural catastrophe that the Valencian Community has experienced has taken numerous fatal victims.
Our support to those affected, to the families of the victims and of course, to everyone who is working hard in the rescue work and in providing help in the face of this tragedy.

We are still having our water pressure reduced overnight due to the low state of the embalses. A minor inconvenience when compared to the Valencian comunity.

Re: Rain yesterday
 

One of the big misconceptions is that the changes in climate will lead to high temperatures and drought but in fact it will lead to more unpredictable rainfall as seen in Spain the last few days.

Pretty awful that people were caught so unaware and that there was loss of life. Unfortunately Spain is not alone in this respect but certainly very vulnerable.
Close to where I am several villages were more or less washed away or disappeared into a massive sinkhole with the rainfall simply rinsing away old houses from 3 - 400 years ago, destroying several towns and their tourist trade and the whole side of one village with newer houses just floating away..I am in Central Europe by the German border.
Most houses where you are, built to cope with the hot and dry weather but certainly not a Tsunami of this nature.
Stay safe and most importantly do some research and have some kind of escape plan.

Re: Rain yesterday
 

I would check that they have reduced your water pressure. I say that as we have had low water pressure for some time and I presumed it was due to drought and water saving measure? Recently we had been away came back and it seemed worse still. So we checked with town hall they had not reduced water pressure at all? They sent the Town Hall plumber out. He dug up our water pipe in the street put in new pipe although he couldn't find any real fault. He then dug up another pipe in the street replaced that. There was little difference in pressure in the house. He then checked inside where water enters. There is there a valve he checked below the valve the pressure was great. The valve of course being inside is our responsibility not Town Halls. Plumber said we didn't need this valve it could be replaced or just removed. So I got a new piece of pipe some compression joints, removed valve replaced it with length of pipe and bingo we have brilliant water pressure. I examined the valve I took out and it had calked up.

Re: Rain yesterday
 

:focus:

A years worth of rain in 8 hours was the cause of this disaster. People were caught out on the roads going about their normal business. Sudden and devastating fierce rivers of water rushed through the streets and along the carriageways An unpredictable disaster that has affected thousands of Valencian people. Many are trapped in their flats due to the cars and debris that have ended up piled up in the streets so that it is impossible to leave their buildings. Powerlines are down. Tele 5 talked to people who were desperate to find their lost family members. The services that were trying to save people did a magnificent job and should be highly praised for their efforts.

Many places will be impassable for some time but already there are huge efforts being made to clear the debris in order for "normality" to return.

Rosemary

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Sone shocking photographs, terrifying (& worse) for all those affected.

Re: Rain yesterday
 

It's heartbreaking to see the destruction caused. The loss of people, animals, homes, etc. Such a terrifying situation to be in.
My thoughts are with those who are affected.

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Really feel for the services searching the wreckages for the missing people. The latest figure that I have seen is 155 deaths. Tragic.

Rosemary

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Terrible storms started again now. Just hope that there is not so much rain this time around. At the moment it looks like another three days of rain.

Rosemary

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Oh dear, fingers crossed.

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Well that's not good. It can only hinder the current dire situation.

Re: Rain yesterday
 

A now unfortunately things are not looking good. Logistically it's a nightmare apparently. Firstly part of the A7 around Valencia has collapsed closing the road and other routes are blocked. The Railtrack is also damaged and the Madrid Valencia high speed is not functioning. This is creating problems for transporting food and supplies as local stores have little food. Secondly looting is a problem - not food but goods like jewellery shops and outlets. Some images look like a Zombie film as people rush around with bags full of goods. Some residents cannot leave their buildings as doors are blocked by vehicles and debri and have no electricity or water. It is far from over and now there are warnings of heavy rain again on Sunday.

​​​​​

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Hundreds of citizens are walking to an affected area complete with trolleys of bottled water and shovels so that they can help survivors. Rescue workers who were driving to one area were overwhelmed by the sheer amount of help that they were to gain from these caring people. Lovely to see them pulling together like this. The centres that are collecting donations of clothing etc are piled high with bags of necessary items.

Rosemary

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Just received details from local town hall of the local appeal for water, biscuits, cereals, baby food, hygiene products but yes transporting them into the areas is going to be difficult.

Re: Rain yesterday
 

In case anyone is in doubt. The regional government in Valencia (PP y VOX) disbanded the emergency procedure and rapid help unit last year - because they didn't like anything that the previous government organised because they are " communists " So take a look at the situation now!!

Re: Rain yesterday
 

The town halls are very good about sending out this sort of appeal and many also provide a collection point and a suitable vehicle to transport the items to the organisers who will have arranged for the items to be delivered to a point near to the affected area. No idea whether this will have been set up but normally these services are excellent at that side of organising.

Cruz Roja are happy to have financial support too which can be achieved via banks, also people can donate via their Amazon account which is very easy.

Rosemary

Re: Rain yesterday
 

Yes the TV is hsowing live pictures of ordinary people arriving with food, water and shovels trying to help