Deadly Flooding in Spain - Search Efforts Ongoing

Torrential rainfall hit central Spain late Monday night into Tuesday leading to widespread flash flooding for the Capital region of Madrid. Over 95mm of rain fell in just 24 hours, which is over 3.5". Rivers swelled and streets turned into raging torrents. The storm responsible for the damage is called "Dana" in the country.

According to Copernicus, the EU's satellite program "During the first weekend of September 2023, a slow-moving storm system, officially known as an upper-level isolated depression (DANA), has affected Spain, causing heavy rains and floods. The storm, as seen in this image acquired by a Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite on 3 September, caused two casualties in Huesca. The Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) issued a red alert for Madrid and Toledo, the highest of its three-tiered system. The Madrid City Council has urged residents of the capital to stay indoors as DANA creates a historic ‘exceptional and anomalous situation’."

Sadly, we are hearing that at least 3 people have lost their lives in the flooding with many more still missing. Crews were going car by car in flooded roadways and river banks looking for survivors in the small town of Aldea del Fresno, Spain about 40 miles outside of Madrid.

A 10 year old boy was found clinging to a tree in the area to survive the flooding. Officials say his father is still missing in the floodwaters. The mayor of Madrid asked residents to stay home while streets were cleared of floodwaters.

Officials are still searching for those missing. The post below translates to "The Civil Guard continues to search for the three people who disappeared after the passage of the Dana, -two in Madrid and one in Toledo. In Aldea del Fresno: middle-aged man. His car was swept away by the river when he was traveling with his family. Villamanta: an 83-year-old man who was swept away by the current when he was in the vicinity of his home. In Toledo: - Valmojado: missing 54-year-old woman in Valmojado"