Severe Rainfall Hits Eastern Spain: Red Alerts and Major Disruptions
Eastern Spain faces extreme rainfall, prompting red alerts, school closures, and transportation disruptions.
- • Red alert issued for extreme weather conditions in Valencia and Catalonia.
- • Gandía recorded 357 liters of rain in 12 hours, with severe impacts reported.
- • Over 540,000 students in Valencia and 25,000 in Catalonia had classes canceled.
- • Transportation delays and flight cancellations reported due to flooding.
Key details
Eastern Spain is grappling with extreme rainfall events that have prompted widespread disruption across Valencia and Catalonia. On September 29, 2025, the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) issued a red alert, forecasting up to 180 liters of rain over just 12 hours for several regions, particularly along the coast of Valencia. This weather phenomenon was exacerbated by a cold front, causing significant storms and heavy rain throughout the area. In La Safor, especially in Gandía, reports highlighted that as much as 200 liters of rain fell in only five hours, with total accumulations reaching 357 liters in 12 hours in parts of the region.
The heavy rainfall has led to severe disruptions, including the suspension of classes in 239 municipalities across Valencia, affecting over 536,800 students. In Catalonia, 25,000 students also faced canceled classes as authorities prioritised safety measures amid predictions of continued adverse weather. Transportation services were noticeably impacted, with delays reported for Cercanías and Rodalies train services, alongside the cancellation of multiple flights at Valencia Airport due to accumulating water on runways.
Emergency services have been on high alert, participating in numerous interventions across the affected areas, primarily focusing on sanitation and rescues. The Valencia Fire Consortium has reported conducting 65 operations related to the storm's impact. In addition, the Valencia CF football match against Real Oviedo was postponed due to the inclement weather.
With some regions experiencing the worst of the storm, officials are urging calm among residents. President Pedro Sánchez has called for solidarity and adherence to guidance from emergency services as the region continues to navigate these challenging conditions. Authorities in Catalonia maintain advisories as they believe the most intense weather may have passed but stress that vigilance is still necessary as the situation evolves.