Torrential storms flooded streets across Valencia, trapping drivers and paralysing transport. More than 470 incidents were recorded during the first hours of the emergency. The ES-Alert message reached residents at 22:08 on 16 September, two hours after rainfall began, prompting concern about the timing of the warning. RTVE and regional reports, citing the Centro de Coordinación de Emergencias, said it was sent to residents along Valencia province’s northern and southern coast.
Cars were surrounded or partly covered by water, while garages filled and containers were swept along by runoff. Authorities urged residents to avoid travelling and stay clear of river channels, and told them to move to the upper floors of their homes. Valencia activated situation 1 under the Special Flood Plan (PEI) after heavy rain and thunderstorms. The Centro de Coordinación de Emergencias said some warnings and emergency response levels were lifted overnight and by morning.
The disruption spread across the province. AEMET maintained orange warnings for Valencia and neighbouring areas, forecasting very intense rainfall over short periods: up to 40 litres per square metre in an hour in some zones and up to 80 litres per square metre in two to three hours.
Metro services were suspended at several stations after water reached the tracks, leaving passengers stranded on platforms. Cercanías trains stopped operating, and Valencia airport closed. Floodwater also reached the Hospital Clínico de Valencia, where workers tried to hold it back with buckets and towels. Official reports and agency coverage said the airport at Manises was temporarily unable to operate after flooding affected its infrastructure.
In Torrent, women had to be rescued from their car after becoming trapped on a flooded street. In Moncada, water covered almost half the entrance to a supermarket. The incidents showed how quickly the storm threatened movement and access to basic urban services.
Valencia city authorities had activated emergency protocols on 15 September in response to yellow and orange weather warnings. The measures included cancelling outdoor sporting events and restricting access to facilities in areas at risk of flooding, the Valencia City Council said.
The episode revived painful memories of the DANA of 29 October 2024. The delay between the start of the rain and the emergency message became a central concern for residents facing rapidly worsening conditions. The contrast with earlier storm coverage is stark: in Valencia, the danger moved beyond forecasts, reaching homes and hospital facilities while disrupting transport. Reports from RTVE and emergency authorities placed the episode within a broader period of severe instability across the Mediterranean.
Lightning added another danger. Around 9,000 strikes were recorded in two hours, and one caused a fire at a shopping centre in Alfafar. Rain and electrical activity compounded the effects of flooded infrastructure, leaving residents exposed to several hazards at once.
Paterna’s mayor announced the suspension of classes in all schools as a precaution ahead of the possible alert expected the following day. The decision disrupted education and family routines while transport services and the airport remained affected.
Floodwater entered a hospital and cut rail connections, leaving passengers stranded and forcing rescues before the public warning was issued. Authorities’ instructions were clear once delivered, but the timing exposed a gap between the storm’s arrival and the alert as urban systems began failing simultaneously.
