Pascual Andreu proudly displays a black-and-white photograph affixed to the wall of his chocolate-making establishment. In the photograph, his grandfather gazes at the founder of the company established in 1914.
As Andreu surveys the aftermath of the flash floods that ravaged the eastern Spanish region of Valencia on 29 October, he is overcome with emotion, tears filling his eyes as he recalls the devastation surrounding him.
“The floodwaters surged, inundating the area with a thick layer of mud and debris,” he recounts. Once it had passed, the aftermath revealed a harrowing scene. Every piece of stock we possessed was destroyed, and the machinery became ineffective.
He states, “I have spent my entire life working.” And for what purpose?
The floodwaters have receded, leaving behind a stark six-foot-high mark on the wall. However, remnants of mud continue to cling to the machines, a testament to the recent deluge. The photo of his grandfather, against all odds, remained intact and was not washed away.
Now in his sixties, Andreu finds himself in a state of disillusionment as he awaits the outcome of his insurance claim, feeling too discouraged to consider starting anew.
A devastating flash flood has claimed the lives of over 220 individuals in the Valencia region. Many victims were trapped in their vehicles or on the ground floors of buildings as the tsunami-like waters surged through the area. The disaster not only claimed lives but also wreaked havoc on livelihoods. The Chamber of Commerce in Valencia has reported that approximately 48,000 companies have experienced adverse effects.
The towns and industrial areas adjacent to the Mediterranean city of Valencia, which managed to evade the effects of the floods, experienced the most severe damage. Valencia province accounts for 5% of Spain’s GDP, as reported by CaixaBank Research. The organization projects that the recent disaster may lead to a decline in national economic output by one to two percentage points in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Significant damage has occurred across various industrial estates. Diego Romá, the executive president of the Federation of Industrial Estates in the Valencia region (Festival), has stated that “thousands and thousands of jobs are in the air,” highlighting the impact of floodwaters on 58 industrial estates.
“While the majority of companies are striving to restart production, it is unfortunate that an estimated 10 to 20% may face closure,” he stated.
The impact of 29 October continues to be evident across the industrial estates. Abandoned vehicles line the roadside, encrusted with mud, while debris has accumulated against nearby walls. The shutters of numerous businesses remain firmly shut.
Electro Fernández, a company specializing in electricity installations, stands out as one of the rare businesses to have resumed operations after suffering significant losses of €40,000 ($42,000; £33,000) in tools due to the recent floods.
“We were completely impacted as we lost our tools and vehicles,” stated Patricia Muñoz, co-owner of the company, alongside her husband. According to her, they presently operate at just 10% of their capacity.
“We’ve thoroughly cleaned the premises, ensured all our employees are present, and implemented measures to resume operations,” she stated. Many companies in this industrial estate and others have yet to reach that level of progress; they are still cleaning up.
Many are calling this situation a complete failure. The actual magnitude becomes apparent only upon witnessing it firsthand.
A car storage area nearby houses hundreds of the approximately 120,000 vehicles that were either damaged or destroyed by the flooding, all removed from the roads and stacked atop one another. The government has unveiled a €17 billion relief plan in the wake of the tragedy, which includes a commitment to offer up to €10,000 to car owners for vehicle replacement.
Businesses and self-employed individuals will receive compensation for damages inflicted on residential and commercial properties. The implementation of a furlough scheme is currently underway.
In late November, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed Congress, emphasizing that his administration is undertaking a “titanic effort” to guarantee that the promised funds are delivered to those in need without delay. Nonetheless, skepticism remains among specific individuals.
“Official financial aid is poorly managed,” asserts Toni Milla, president of a local business association in the town of Alfafar, which has been significantly impacted. He claims that much of the promised relief for businesses during the Covid pandemic failed to reach its intended recipients.
“I believe we are likely to see a repeat of the previous situation,” he states.
The immediate response to the disaster has significantly undermined Valencians’ trust in their authorities. Protesters are calling for the resignation of regional president Carlos Mazón, who reportedly spent several hours away from his office on the day of the floods as he was having lunch with a journalist. A significant number of individuals contend that the administration’s postponement in sending out an alert to residents in the area resulted in the loss of lives.
Mazón has dismissed these allegations. “We made every effort possible given the information at hand,” he states.
Critics have pointed to the central government’s lack of decisive action in effectively deploying military and other resources. Sánchez has maintained that his administration “fulfilled its duties and did so from the very beginning” of the crisis.
In the interim, assistance has been extended by the private sector. Alcem-se, a charitable initiative established by local supermarket mogul Juan Roig, has announced the distribution of €35 million in non-repayable assistance to 4,600 businesses.
For numerous individuals, including Mr. Milla, the relief provided may fall short of expectations. He owned a local television channel, an estate agency, and a bar, but in the aftermath of the October floods, he could only partially reopen the latter.
He enumerates several local establishments, such as a petrol station, a gym, a beautician, and an optician, asserting that they will not resume operations.
However, the impact of the events on 29 October extended beyond urban areas. Located in south-eastern Spain, the Valencia region stands out as a significant agricultural hub, known for its substantial exports of fruit and vegetables to various European markets.
Located twenty-five miles (40km) south of Valencia city, José España tends to his orange trees—oranges, dislodged from their branches by the relentless floodwaters, now decay on the ground below.
“Farmers consistently express optimism for the future, stating, ‘next year things will get better,’ yet currently, the sentiment among them is decidedly bleak,” he remarked. The agricultural association AVA-ASAJA, of which he is a member, has estimated that the damage to crops alone on 29 October exceeded €1 billion.
“Farmers have experienced several years of neglect, and the recent floods could lead to an increased number of farmers exiting the industry,” he states. “Restoring the area to its pre-flood condition is expected to require a two to three years timeline.”
