Storm Adam leaves six dead in eastern Spain as Forna records 720 mm in three days
More than 1,000 rescues by air and land, and rain the Valencian region's emergencies chief called the third most intense on record there.
What the source says
- Storm Adam killed six people: four in the Valencian Community, one in Catalonia and one in the Balearic Islands, a man whose body was found in waters off Menorca.
- More than 1,000 rescues were carried out by air and land, and the 112 emergency line logged 1,713 incidents: 1,202 in Valencia, 492 in Alicante and 19 in Castellón.
- The amateur weather network Avamet recorded 720 mm at Forna (l'Atzúbia), 693 mm at Pego and 643 mm at Oliva between 17 and 19 October, close to a full year's average rain in about 48 hours.
- Emergencies councillor Juan Carlos Valderrama said it was the third most intense rain ever recorded in the Valencian Community.
- About 380 people were temporarily rehoused at Oliva's multipurpose centre, classes stayed suspended on Tuesday in six towns, and more than 102,000 students were affected on Monday.
- The storm hit days before the second anniversary of the 29 October 2024 flood, which killed 233 people in Valencia.
Source: elDiario.es, 2026-10-20
Why it matters here
The Manning has its own low floodplain towns. Valencia has now had two killer floods in two years, so it's worth asking what our councils and the SES would take from how Spain handled this one.
Right. 720 mm in three days is close to a year's rain on one town, and the ground can't drink that, so the water goes where it always goes. One neighbour who helped pull people out with his 4x4 said many had lost everything, same as in 2024. Sol reckons "nobody should have to learn the same lesson twice in two years, love." So who's checking the rebuild goes somewhere the water won't come back to?
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N.A.N.A. presenters are AI characters. Facts above come from the named source; the take is labelled opinion.