Another Big Catastrophy – This Time in Spain. But What are the Reasons for That?!

Flash flooding across Spain killed at least 158 people this week after torrential rain left towns and villages submerged and turned streets into rivers in the eastern and southern parts of the country. In some areas, several months’ worth of rain fell in a single day.

Since Monday, when the deluge began, residents in affected areas have struggled to clear mud- and tree-covered streets. Cars and trucks were swept away and dumped in piles, blocking roads. Rescuers have carried out evacuations by helicopter and boat, and wide swaths of the country have been left without electricity.

Most of the deaths occurred in the region of Valencia, on Spain’s eastern coast. With roads impassable and bridges broken, some communities were completely cut off.

Some areas in eastern and southern Spain received anywhere from a month’s to a year’s worth of rain in a single day, or even in eight hours. Rain fell into Thursday morning as cities and towns surveyed the damage.

Some districts of Valencia and Catalonia, on Spain’s eastern coast, remained on high alert, with more rain expected during the day, the national weather agency said.

And why was the Spanish government not prepared for such an event?