Weather & Science
Spain Struggles to Make Sense of a Flood That Killed Hundreds
- Valencia leader Mazon blamed for fatally slow emergency alerts
- Political polarization threatens reconstruction efforts
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Three days after flash floods swept through Utiel, a tiny town in the eastern province of Valencia, volunteers trudged through debris to help clear broken furniture and shovel away mud.
“In less than a day I’ve lost everything,” said Carlos Hortelano, 57, who has lived in Utiel all his life. Storm water flooded his house while his mother and her helper were inside. They sheltered on the second floor, watching the water level creep up the stairs. In a single-story home next door, an elderly man died, having nowhere to go.