further torrential rains expected, schools closed

Schools in flood-hit towns in eastern Spain will be closed on Wednesday (November 13) as the region braces for more torrential rain, authorities said.

National meteorological office Aemet on Tuesday placed parts of Valencia, as well as Catalonia in the northeast, Andalusia in the south and the Balearic Islands on orange alert – the second highest level – for heavy or torrential rain until Thursday.

This alert comes two weeks after an exceptional Mediterranean storm caused the deadliest floods Spain has seen in decades. The storm of October 29 left 223 dead, most of them in the Valencia region, according to the latest official report.

Dozens of town halls in the Valencia region, including Chiva, one of the worst-hit sites, have suspended classes and closed public gyms due to the threat of more torrential rain. “Due to the current state of the Municipality of Chiva, and in accordance with the information provided by the emergency services, school and sports activities will be suspended from tomorrow and until further notice”announced the town hall on X.

Clogged sewer systems

A military vehicle drove through towns in Valencia using a megaphone to warn of expected storms and urge people not to “unnecessary travel”according to images broadcast by Spanish public television TVE,

Although the amount of rain forecast in Valencia is less than that which fell two weeks ago, local authorities have warned that sewage systems are clogged with mud and may struggle to cope with any rainfall significant, which would make further flooding possible.

Outrage over poor management of the crisis before and after the floods sparked mass protests on Saturday, the largest of which brought together 130,000 people in the city of Valencia.

Classes were also suspended on Wednesday in parts of southern Catalonia as well as in some cities in Andalusia, including Malaga.