These Videos Do Not Show The Floods in Valencia, Spain
The Claim
1 year rainfall in 8 hours. Devastating floods hit Valencia, Spain. 158 people are dead, marking the country's deadliest disaster of this kind in decades.
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Emerging story
Recently, social media users have been circulating videos claiming to show catastrophic flooding in Valencia, Spain.
A user on X shared the video with the caption, “1 year rainfall in 8 hours. Devastating floods hit Valencia, Spain. 158 people are dead, marking the country's deadliest disaster of this kind in decades.”
Another video was also shared, purportedly depicting the floods in Spain.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating videos and found the claim to be misleading.
Misbar's team found that the first video dates back to November 2011 and captures the tsunami hitting Miyako harbor, filmed from the Kuwagasaki district. A reporter from Iwate Menkoi TV's Miyako branch recorded the scene from a vantage point on a high hill near the fisherman's cooperative association, showing waves flowing upstream into the river.
The second video is from July 2023, when intense rainfall affected much of Zaragoza, Spain, leading to flooding that swept away cars with people on their rooftops.
Devastating Rainfall and Flooding in Spain
Spain has experienced record-breaking rainfall and flash floods, resulting in numerous casualties and significant disruption, along with considerable economic losses.
The Valencia region was particularly hit hard, with many areas receiving over 300 liters per square meter. Between October 29 and 30, a weather station in Chiva recorded an astonishing 491 liters per square meter in just eight hours, equivalent to a year's worth of rainfall, according to AEMET (Agencia Estatal de Meteorología).
A large-scale rescue and relief operation was initiated as the death toll rose to over 150. Disturbing images depicted individuals being swept away in vehicles and raging floodwaters. Tens of thousands in Valencia faced power outages, and transportation services were severely disrupted. In response, the Spanish government declared three days of national mourning.
AEMET, the official authority for weather warnings in Spain, issued multiple alerts using the Common Alerting Protocol, a standardized format for emergency messages across all media and hazards, ensuring that vital information reaches the public.
On November 1, a top-level red alert was issued for the province of Huelva in southwestern Spain, which also faced heavy rainfall. For instance, Cartaya recorded 117 liters per square meter in under three hours, with 70 liters falling in just one hour. Additionally, Jerez Airport saw a record 114.8 mm of rain in a 24-hour period on October 30. A second-tier alert was in effect for eastern Spain, including the Valencia area.
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