Floods
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Cloud Precipitation

Flood-hit Spain drenched by wettest October on record with 30 inches of rain in a day for the town of Turis

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Spain was soaked in its wettest October on record last month which culminated in catastrophic floods that have killed 219 people and left dozens missing, the government said on Friday.

An average of 147 litres per square metre (147 mm) drenched mainland Spain last month, making it the wettest October since records began in 1961, national weather service AEMET and the ecological transition ministry said.

The deluge was 189 percent above the 1991-2020 reference period for the month and came as temperatures were 0.9 degrees Celsius warmer than average, they added in a statement.

The downpours peaked during a ferocious Mediterranean storm on October 29 which unleashed torrents of muddy water that desolated the eastern Valencia region in Spain's deadliest floods in decades.

At one measuring station in the Valencia region town of Turis, 771 mm of rain fell on that day alone.

Although Mediterranean storms are common for the time of year, scientists say climate change driven by human activity is increasing the intensity, length and frequency of extreme weather events.

Agence France-Presse

Cloud Lightning

Storm-weary Philippines evacuates thousands as Typhoon Toraji hits - 4th typhoon in under a month

Typhoon Toraji is set to make landfall across the Philippines, bringing destructive winds, flooding rains and the potential for landslides.
Typhoon Toraji is set to make landfall across the Philippines, bringing destructive winds, flooding rains and the potential for landslides.
The Philippines has been hit by its fourth typhoon in under a month, leading to thousands of evacuations.

Typhoon Toraji struck near Dilasag town, about 220 kilometres north-east of the country's capital, Manila, the national weather agency said.

"We're getting hit with strong winds and heavy rain. Some trees are being toppled and power has been cut since yesterday," Merwina Pableo, the civil defence chief of Dinalungan town near Dilasag, said.

Rescuers said around 7,000 people were moved from coastal areas as well as flood-prone and landslide-prone areas in Aurora and Isabela, the first two provinces to be struck before Toraji ploughed inland to the mountainous interior of the main island of Luzon.

The government ordered 2,500 villages to be evacuated on Sunday. As of Monday, the national disaster office had not reported the total number of evacuees.


Arrow Down

12 bodies found after deadly landslides following torrential rain in Cameroon on November 6th - dozens of people still missing

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Rescue workers have found 12 bodies after landslides buried a road in western Cameroon, a local official reported on Saturday, stating that there is no expectation of locating any survivors.

State television CRTV relayed the statement made by Augustine Awa Fonka, the governor of the Ouest region.

"In our opinion there is no longer any possibility of finding survivors," he told the station.

"Only 12 bodies had been recovered from the site of the disaster, the last of them on Saturday morning, he added.

"Dozens more people are still missing, and the search for bodies is still continuing", he added.


Comment: An earlier report from Africanews and AP:
At least four people died and over 50 are missing in the west of Cameroon after three passenger buses and several road workers were caught in a landslide, authorities said Wednesday (Nov. 06).

Torrential rains weakened the soil and lead do the landslide on Tuesday, Cameroon's Minister of Public Work Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi said after visiting the site of the disaster, a stretch of a highway linking Dschang in the West Region of Cameroon and the country's economic capital of Douala.



Tsunami

Best of the Web: Houses, schools flooded, cars washed away as storms cause havoc in Spain - at least 223 dead, 78 missing - year's rain in 8 hours (UPDATES)

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Torrential rain in the upper Guadalhorce area of Malaga province has left dozens of houses and schools flooded in Álora and Pizarra this Tuesday morning. The downpours have also caused several cars parked near the river to wash away and float downstream.

It comes as 100mm of rain was dumped on the upper Guadalhorce during the early hours of this Tuesday morning, according to the Junta de Andalucía's Hidrosur network, with rain continuing throughout the morning.


Comment: Update October 30

Reuters reports:
At least 72 people have been killed in the deadliest flooding to hit Spain for three decades after torrential rain battered the eastern region of Valencia, sweeping away bridges and buildings, local authorities said on Wednesday.


Meteorologists said a year's rain had fallen in eight hours in parts of Valencia on Tuesday, causing pile-ups on highways and submerging farmland in a region that produces two-thirds of the citrus fruit grown in Spain, a leading global exporter.

Residents in the worst-hit places described seeing people clambering onto the roofs of their cars as a churning tide of brown water gushed through the streets, uprooting trees and dragging away chunks of masonry from buildings.

"It's a river that came through," said Denis Hlavaty, who waited for rescue on a ledge in the petrol station where he works in the regional capital. "The doors were torn away and I spent the night there, surrounded by water that was 2 metres (6.5-feet) deep."






Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez promised to rebuild infrastructure that had been destroyed and said in a televised address: "For those who at this moment are still looking for their loved ones, the whole of Spain weeps with you."

Footage shot by emergency services from a helicopter showed bridges that had collapsed and cars and trucks piled on top of each other on highways between flooded fields outside the city of Valencia.

Trains to the cities of Madrid and Barcelona were cancelled due to the flooding, and schools and other essential services were suspended in the worst-hit areas, officials said.

Power company i-DE, owned by Europe's biggest utility, Iberdrola, said about 150,000 clients in Valencia had no electricity.

Emergency services in the region urged citizens to avoid all road travel and to follow further official advice, and a military unit specialised in rescue operations was deployed in some places to help local emergency workers.

Some parts of Valencia such as the towns of Turis, Chiva or Bunol recorded more than 400 mm (15 inches) of rainfall, leading the state weather agency AEMET to declare a red alert on Tuesday. It was lowered to amber on Wednesday as the rain eased.

There was also flooding in other parts of the country, including the southern region of Andalusia, and forecasters warned of more bad weather ahead as the storm moved in a northeasterly direction.

The regional weather service in Catalonia issued a red alert for the area around Barcelona, warning of high winds and hail, while the AEMET state agency placed the city of Jerez in Andalusia on red alert.

"(The floodwaters) took away lots of dogs, lots of horses, they took away everything," said Antonio Carmona, a construction worker and resident of Alora in the southern region.

DEADLIEST SPANISH FLOODS SINCE 1996

The death toll appeared to be the worst in Europe from flooding since 2021 when at least 185 people died in Germany.

It is the deadliest flood-related disaster in Spain since 1996, when 87 people died near a town in the Pyrenees mountains.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X that Europe was ready to help. "What we're seeing in Spain is devastating," she said on X.

ASAJA, one of Spain's largest farmer groups, said on Tuesday it expected significant damage to crops.

Spain is the world's largest exporter of fresh and dried oranges, according to trade data provider the Observatory of Economic Complexity, and Valencia accounts for about 60% of the country's citrus production, according to Valencian Institute of Agriculture Investigations.
Update October 31

Al Jazeera reports:
Spain floods death toll rises to 158 as rescuers search for survivors

The death toll from Spain's worst floods in decades has soared to 158, emergency services and officials say, as rescue services work frantically to find survivors.

The body coordinating rescue work in the eastern region of Valencia announced on Thursday that 155 bodies had been recovered there. Officials in Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain reported two deaths, and Andalusia in the south announced one.

The widespread damage resembled the aftermath of a hurricane or tsunami. Cars were piled on top of one another like fallen dominoes. Uprooted trees, downed power lines and household items were all mired in mud that covered streets in dozens of communities in Valencia. The floods demolished bridges and left roads unrecognisable.

Local authorities have not disclosed how many people are still unaccounted, and Defence Minister Margarita Robles said the final national death toll could be much greater.

Opposition politicians accused the central government in Madrid of acting too slowly to warn residents and send in rescue teams, prompting the Ministry of Interior to say regional authorities were responsible for civil protection measures.
Update November 1

The Associated Press reports:
Death toll from Spanish floods rises to 205 as residents appeal for aid

Three days after historic flash floods swept through towns in Spain and killed at least 205 people, the initial shock was giving way to anger, frustration and a wave of solidarity on Friday.

Spanish emergency authorities raised the death toll to at least 205 victims, 202 of them in Valencia alone.

Many streets are still blocked by piled-up vehicles and debris, in some cases trapping residents in their homes. Some places still don't have electricity, running water, or stable telephone connections.

The damage from the storm Tuesday and Wednesday recalled the aftermath of a tsunami, with survivors left to pick up the pieces as they mourn loved ones lost in Spain's deadliest natural disaster in living memory.
Update November 9

ShiaWaves.com reports:
The confirmed death toll from last week's catastrophic floods in Spain has reached 223, Anadolu Agency reported yesterday citing an announcement made by Transport Minister Oscar Puente.

An additional 78 individuals remain missing, with 48 bodies yet to be identified. The floods, triggered by historic rainfall on October 29, particularly devastated the province of Valencia, where rivers overflowed, leading to widespread flooding that caught many residents off guard.

Despite prior warnings from some local mayors, the Valencian government issued an emergency alert only after the worst of the flooding had passed. In response to the disaster, protests are planned to voice frustration over the government's handling of the crisis.

Cleanup efforts are ongoing, affecting over 75 municipalities and approximately 450,000 hectares of land. Spain's government has committed €10.6 billion ($11.4 billion) in aid to support recovery efforts. The floods, caused by a prolonged storm system, also impacted other regions, including Cadiz, Barcelona, and Girona, marking one of the most significant natural disasters in recent Spanish history.
Two days earlier in the nearby Balearic Islands: Stormy night in Mallorca, Spain: Heavy rainfall, flash floods, road closures, 8 rescues and 77 emergency operations


Tsunami

Georgia declares state of emergency after severe flooding, 23 counties severely hit

FLOOD
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency on Friday for 23 counties severely impacted by torrential rainstorms that caused widespread flooding. The downpours, which hit Wednesday and Thursday, led to overflowing rivers, submerged roads and prompted emergency rescues in some areas. The affected regions include those still recovering from earlier weather events such as Hurricane Helene in September and flooding from Tropical Storm Debby in August.

The emergency declaration allows state resources to aid the flood-stricken communities. In rural Evans County, more than 10 inches (25 cm) of rain fell over two days, prompting first responders to use boats for rescue operations along the Canoochee River near Claxton. The river was predicted to crest at a record 18.7 feet (5.7 meters) by Friday night, according to the National Weather Service.


Comment: Related: Heavy rainfall floods parts of South Carolina, causing damage to over 35 roads - downpour of 15 inches


Tsunami

Bad weather and red alert in Catania, Italy critical situation in Acireale: flooded streets and people stuck in cars

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A strong wave of bad weather has hit the province of Catania and in particular the municipality of Acireale.

The situation had been announced by the issuing of the red alert, but the inconveniences seem to be worse than expected.

The most complicated situation is that of Acireale, on the Ionian coast, where the divers of the Catania fire brigade had to intervene to free people who were stuck in their cars due to the force of the water.


Tsunami

Paraguay: Intense rainfall inundates streets of Luque, cars swept away

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Intense rainfall on Wednesday, November 6, caused flooding in Luque, submerging the streets and the market.

Cars were swept away by a strong current, according to reports.


Tsunami

Heavy rainfall floods parts of South Carolina, causing damage to over 35 roads - downpour of 15 inches

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As of Thursday night, South Carolina's transportation department said more than 35 roads in the Calhoun and Orangeburg areas were closed because of flooding or flooding damage.

Gov. Henry McMaster on Thursday declared a state of emergency for portions of the Midlands and Lowcountry after several inches of rain flooded roads, causing damage.

"Team South Carolina has been responding to the impacts of flooding and subsequent road closures in portions of the state throughout the day," McMaster said in a statement. "The state of emergency will ensure that our response teams have every tool at their disposal to continue their efforts."

Between 7 and 10 inches of rain dropped on parts of South Carolina after a weather front stalled over the Southeast starting Wednesday, resulting in long periods of rainfall.

Some areas of the Midlands reported up to 15 inches of rain, the governor's office said.


Tsunami

Flash floods hit the island of Mallorca, Spain - 2nd time in 11 days

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Dangerous driving conditions in parts of Mallorca.
The residents of Bunyola and its surrounding villages, but especially the Soller road as it passes through the town and at the roundabout leading from Can Penasso, have suffered the consequences of heavy rainfall in the early afternoon, which has flooded some sections of the Ma-11, caused minor rock falls and long traffic jams.

In the vidoes filmed by local residents and drivers you can see how the road and the surrounding land are saturated with water and mud, although the incidents have also moved to the town of Bunyola itself, where there are some residents who have suffered power cuts and have witnessed the spectacular waterspout that has surprised them on Thursday.


Comment: Just 11 days prior: Stormy night in Mallorca, Spain: Heavy rainfall, flash floods, road closures, 8 rescues and 77 emergency operations


Tsunami

Colombia: Bogota braces for more powerful storms following flash flooding

Stranded drivers rescued as flash floods swamp Colombian capital
Stranded drivers rescued as flash floods swamp Colombian capital
After a severe electrical storm swept over Bogotá on Wednesday, November 6, triggering flash floods across the capital and causing the Torca wetland to overflow, authorities are preparing for potentially more intense weather. The storm, which hit during the evening rush hour, unleashed lightning, heavy rain, and floods that halted mobility across the city. The situation worsened when Bogotá's El Dorado Airport suspended all operations, leaving passengers stranded and facing lengthy delays as airlines scrambled to reschedule flights.

Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán reported that emergency response teams attended to over 26 critical points in the city, particularly in the hard-hit districts of Usaquén, Suba, and Ciudad Bolívar. The intensity of the rains over four hours also overwhelmed Bogotá's drainage systems, resulting in flooding along Calle 80, Avenida Caracas, and Calle 26. As essential corridors shut down due to rising water levels, the Autopista Norte (North Highway) faced a serious emergency with approximately 500 cars trapped in deep water. With emergency crews working overnight to rescue people from their vehicles, Mayor Galán announced that schools located in the north of the Colombian capital would suspend classes, as more rainfall is expected on Thursday and possibly through the weekend.