Flood Management Through Spain’s Greatest Flooding Catastrophe of 2024
Analyzing the Causes, Impact, and Key Takeaways of the Valencia DANA | A Deep Dive into Flood Management with "Inundhabilidad"
Today, I want to share an important reflection about the event that has deeply affected Spain in 2024: the severe floods that hit the Valencian Community.
We brought an episode with Ana Juaréz, a Young Water Professional, full of passion and deep knowledge in water management.
We discussed this event openly, without any conflict of interest and away from the "political noise," which, in my view, is absolutely disgusting from all sides.
The devastation was concentrated in the southern part of the region, impacting many towns, while the city of Valencia itself suffered less damage.
The images and videos we have seen on TV are truly shocking—from bridges being swept away by powerful water currents to people struggling to stay on their feet and cars violently carried away.
Sadly, this disaster has had devastating consequences, with a death toll of 229, far exceeding those of previous major floods in Spain.
There is an urgent need to learn from this experience and take action—not just in Spain, but worldwide.
Key factors that contributed to this tragedy:
Urban expansion in flood-prone areas: Historical image comparisons show that areas once naturally designated as floodplains—formed by river sediments over time—have been increasingly urbanized and industrialized, as seen in Paiporta. However, the river channels were not expanded accordingly.
Lack of adequate flood protection structures: While the city of Valencia benefited from diverting the Turia River after a past flood, similar measures were not implemented in other high-risk areas, leaving them vulnerable.
Despite available data on flood-prone zones, solutions have been delayed.
Rapid population growth in vulnerable areas: Towns like Paiporta have seen significant population increases in recent decades, leading to more people living in high-risk flood zones.
Extreme rainfall: In some areas, rainfall exceeded 500-year record levels, reaching up to 600 mm in just four hours.
Delayed emergency alerts and government response: A lack of timely warnings and dissatisfaction with the official response left many communities feeling unprotected.
To prevent such disasters in the future:
Giving rivers more space: Allowing rivers to expand naturally during floods and avoiding construction too close to their banks. Successful examples in other European cities show the importance of maintaining wide river channels.
Adopting a basin-wide approach: Managing upstream land use to encourage water absorption in wetlands, forests, and green areas rather than obstructing its natural course, which worsens downstream flooding.
Recognizing flood zones as natural ecosystems that must be preserved.
This tragic event in Valencia should serve as a lesson for improving flood management and our relationship with nature.
Understanding the factors behind the disaster and taking preventive action is essential to protecting communities in the future.
We encourage everyone to reflect on these lessons and consider how we can work together to build a more resilient future in the face of natural disasters.
“Inundhabilidad” Channel
For those who want to dive deeper into flood management, Ana Juárez, Jordi Oliveras, and Antonio Pablo Romero founded "Inundhabilidad."
You can also find their YouTube channel, which already features three insightful interviews, as well as their website for more training content and additional resources.