Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – Storm Adam is hitting the Valencian Community in Spain, bringing exceptional rainfall, flooding, and isolated towns. Some areas recorded rainfall of up to 700 liters per square meter in 24 hours. Authorities have imposed travel restrictions in numerous municipalities, while rescue operations continue, and schools remain closed for approximately 100 students.
Around 900 people are affected by the lockdown order approved by the Generalitat, the Valencian regional government, for 145 municipalities south of Valencia and north of Alicante, the areas hardest hit by the bad weather.
According to data released by local meteorological services, 720 litres per square metre were recorded in Forna and 693 in Pego. As El País explains, the intense rainfall isolated several localities, making rescue operations difficult.
Boat rescues are underway in Oliva, while at least 15 helicopters are working along the coast north of Alicante, Emergencies Minister Juan Carlos Valderrama said.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez asked people in the affected areas to avoid "any movement and to stay on the upper floors" of buildings.
This is an "exceptional and extremely difficult situation" with "the risk remaining high," declared the president of the Valencian Generalitat Juanfran Parez Llorca, urging the population to "scrupulously follow all the recommendations issued by the emergency services."
“It's not the first time it's happened, but in the climatology of the Safor region, the only precedent is November 3, 1987, so we have to consider it an extraordinary storm,” explained the Spanish State Meteorological Agency.
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