Valencia Floods Claim 95 Lives, Response Criticized

The recent catastrophic floods in Valencia, Spain, have led to at least 95 fatalities, marking the deadliest disaster in the country since 1973. The Spanish meteorological agency had issued warnings days in advance, yet the civil protection agency sent a crucial alert advising residents to stay indoors only after 8 PM on the day of the floods, by which time many were already trapped in their vehicles. This delay in communication has prompted widespread anger and criticism of the local government's handling of the crisis, as many residents felt they were not adequately warned. Experts assert that such tragedies should be avoidable with better preparedness and timely alerts. Additionally, the regional emergency coordination body was not activated until late in the day, exacerbating the situation. The floods have sparked a national conversation about the need for improved disaster response systems as climate change intensifies extreme weather events.