Here's what led to the Spain floods becoming so deadly

As heavy rains lashed Valencia on Tuesday (October 29), President Carlos Mazón of Spain’s fourth-largest region maintained a busy schedule, overseeing events on sustainable tourism, launching a digital health initiative, and attending budget talks.

Meanwhile, Spain’s national weather service was sending urgent flood warnings to his administration. By the time an emergency alert was issued to residents’ phones at 8 pm, many were already trapped in their homes, Politico reported.

The Valencian government is under scrutiny for its delayed reaction to the flood, which has left at least 155 dead, a toll expected to rise as waters recede.

Spain’s national government raised questions about why Mazón’s administration waited so long to issue alerts despite a series of increasingly dire weather forecasts from the national meteorological agency, AEMET, that started as early as October 25.

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According to AEMET, the potential for a historic rainstorm was first flagged on October 25, followed by a weekend of heightened warnings specifying Valencia as the likely epicenter.

By Tuesday, warnings had escalated to “maximum red,” advising locals to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. Yet, throughout Tuesday, Mazón adhered to his official schedule and downplayed the storm’s impact at a press conference midday, Politico reported.

Heavy rains had already caused rivers to overflow, and emergency responders were meeting by mid-morning to coordinate efforts. While Mazón continued with events, Valencia’s emergency unit requested military assistance by mid-afternoon.

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A crisis coordination center, known as CECOPI, convened around 5 p.m., hours after floodwaters had reached dangerous levels in many municipalities.

Residents received an emergency alert on their phones at 8:12 pm, by which time many were already stranded. “They raised the alarm when the water was already here,” said Julian Ormeno, a local pensioner.

Mazón defended his response, stating the alert was timely and appropriate given the forecasts. However, as Spanish officials and political leaders visited Valencia, criticism mounted.

Center-right opposition leader Alberto Núñez-Feijóo suggested AEMET’s information had not been sufficient, while Environment Secretary Hugo Móran maintained that AEMET’s system had worked “perfectly” and attributed the problem to gaps in the subsequent response.

The incident has fueled broader concerns over Spain’s readiness for climate-induced extreme weather, with a new report finding a warming climate increased Valencia’s rainfall by 12 per cent and made the storm twice as likely.

Civil groups and unions are planning a protest on November 9, calling for Mazón’s resignation over his handling of the crisis, amid a national period of mourning for those lost in the flood.