More than a month after the floods in Valencia, Spain, plans for rebuilding are gradually being formulated, along with strategies to better respond to future disasters. The streets of Paiporta, the epicenter of the disaster, remain uncleared.
Spaniards are questioning whether the catastrophe, which claimed at least 230 lives, could have been prevented or mitigated. Earlier warnings on October 29 might have saved many lives, but obtaining answers is complex.
Plans to modify Valencia’s waterways have existed for over 20 years, following a late-1990s flood, but little action has been taken. Javier Machí Felici, dean of the College of Civil Engineers in Valencia, noted that had these plans been implemented, the damage would have been less severe.
However, the scale of the disaster underscores the need to reevaluate these calculations to prevent future occurrences. The flooding was exacerbated by climate change and a warming Mediterranean Sea.
At one point, over 3000 m3 of water per second flowed through a river section that could only handle 800 m3. Experts had long predicted potential issues, leading to a 20-year-old plan to branch the river before it reached the town.
Financial constraints, according to engineer Machí Felici, prevented its implementation. Óscar Pastor, a city councilor and environmental specialist, also cited financial and priority issues.
With many waterway plans unexecuted, politicians, scientists, and businesses must reconvene to draft new strategies. Meanwhile, cleanup efforts continue, though too late for current victims.
Pastor hopes for swift river modifications to prevent future disasters, acknowledging the prolonged nature of such work.
Source: NOS