Flash Floods in Alcalá del Júcar, Spain: A Sudden and Powerful Disaster
On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, the town of Alcalá del Júcar in eastern Spain's Albacete province witnessed a sudden and devastating flash flood that swept away 15 cars into the Jucar River. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported in this incident, but the extent of damage to property and the infrastructure of the town is yet to be fully assessed.
Flash #floods in Alkala del Hsur, #Spain
September 18, 2024. #heavyrainfall pic.twitter.com/MfTuRygJ02— City Weather (@ukcityweather) September 20, 2024
The disaster was triggered by heavy rains in the higher regions of the Albacete province, which caused the Júcar River to overflow and overflow into the town of Alcalá del Júcar. The resulting flash flood dragged 15 cars that were parked in the town's ravine into the river, with some vehicles being carried several meters above the river until they reached the edge of a dam. The incident has been widely reported and visuals shared online show large containers and several other objects flowing down with the flood waters.
Emergency Response and Rescue Efforts
The Castilla-La Mancha Emergency Service received a call at around 15:27 local time, reporting the flash flood and the vehicles being swept away. In response, Civil Protection personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene, along with firefighters from Casas Ibáñez and the Civil Guard. A Yellow Alert was also issued for the day as a precautionary measure.
Early on Thursday, September 19, the underwater Emergency Unit of the Special Fire Prevention and Extinction Service (SEPEI) of the Albacete Provincial Council arrived in Alcalá del Júcar to extract the vehicles from the river. According to Francisco Ovidio García Ríos, head of SEPEI and the Underwater Unit, "Two vehicles have been trapped in the riverbed, and we are now extracting them. They are in a rather complicated position because we have to use heavy machinery."
Flash Floods: A Growing Concern
Flash floods are a growing concern globally, and they can occur in any region with heavy rainfall or other weather-related events. In recent years, there have been several instances of flash floods causing damage and destruction in various parts of the world. The incident in Alcalá del Júcar, Spain, is a reminder of the importance of being prepared and having effective emergency response systems in place.