Record-Breaking Floods in Spain Due to Climate Change?
On October 29, 2024, Spain witnessed its most severe flood in history. Within a few short hours, the amount of rainfall was equivalent to an entire year, causing rivers to overflow and sweep away everything in their path. Many areas were submerged, and thousands of people were trapped in their homes without a way out. The devastation was widespread, from deeply flooded streets to destroyed houses and severely damaged vehicles.
As of November 3, the death toll had reached 211 victims, and it is expected to continue to rise as many people are still missing and the exact number cannot be determined while the communication system is still severely damaged. Rescue teams are racing against time, trying to search and rescue people still trapped.
In addition, this disaster has caused significant economic damage. The floodwaters have submerged agricultural land, affecting the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and causing heavy losses to the local economy. The Valencia region (eastern Spain) was the hardest hit by the flood. Local people have had to face numerous difficulties due to a lack of clean water, electricity, and food.
The devastating scene after the flash flood in Spain. (Image: Skynews)
Meteorologists warn that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as the devastating flash floods that have just occurred in Spain.
According to scientists, the main cause of this disaster is the DANA phenomenon (isolated low pressure at high altitude), which occurs when a cold air mass meets a warm, stagnant air mass at an altitude of about 9,000 meters. When this air mass moves to Spain, it encounters warm and humid air from the Mediterranean Sea, causing condensation and leading to prolonged heavy rain.
In response to the emergency, the Spanish government has quickly mobilized an additional 5,000 troops to the Valencia region to support rescue efforts. They have worked tirelessly, using all means from land, water, and air to rescue and evacuate people from danger. Carlos Mazón, Governor of Valencia, has requested additional forces from the Spanish Ministry of Defense to accelerate the rescue process and mitigate the consequences of the flood.
From the floods in Spain, we can clearly see that climate change is altering the way weather patterns emerge and impact the Earth. Not only causing material and human losses, climate change also threatens food security, public health, and the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide. Let’s act now to protect the Earth from climate change!
Source: Kinh tế đô thị newspaper, VTV Online
