Spain’s Valencia region on red alert for heavy rains

People walk through a street with piled furniture and rubbish on the sides in an area, affected by floods, in Paiporta, Valencia, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Spain’s meteorological agency on Sunday put the eastern Valencia region under red alert for heavy rains, amid fears of a repeat of floods that killed 235 people last October in the area.

Spain’s Aemet weather agency warned of “extraordinary danger” in Tarragona, Castellon, and Valencia for Sunday afternoon and evening, and Monday, a warning echoed by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Citing the Aemet weather alert, Sanchez called on citizens to follow the instructions of the emergency services at all times.

Schools and colleges will stay closed in the city of Valencia itself on Monday, local officials announced, which also said public spaces would close for the day, including libraries, parks, gardens, markets and cemeteries.

City residents received a red alert on their phones Sunday afternoon warning of the severe weather.

The flooding provoked by last October’s torrential rain was exacerbated by the effects of climate change.

Local people have staged a series of protests since against what they allege was mismanagement of the crisis last year, saying regional officials did not warn them in time despite a weather agency having issued an alert.