Devastating flood hits Spanish town: Hundreds trapped in retirement home tragedy
Massive flash-flood struck Spanish town of Paiporta causing widespread destruction and many deaths. Local retirement home residents got caught in rapidly-rising waters while having their evening meal
The quiet evening meal at Paiportas retirement home turned into a nightmare when flood-waters crashed through the buildings wall. Over hundred twenty elderly residents (many wheel-chair bound) faced rising waters that reached above chest-level in matter of minutes
I could hear people from the residence screaming help‚ help
The flood took lives of six elderly people aged 70-to-80; total death count in town reached 45 with countrys toll rising to 158. The nearby Poyo river changed from small stream to powerful current in just minutes‚ making rescue attempts impossible
Local shops got empty due to panic-buying and break-ins; residents lined-up for water from broken pipes. Denis Borisov a long-time resident said: “everything has been taken but what are people supposed to do“ The warning system failed – alerts came after waters already reached dangerous levels
- No electricity
- No clean water
- No military help
- Limited food supplies
Juan Ramón Adsuara the towns mayor pointed out lack of emergency services: fire trucks werent seen for days. Some people got stuck in basements – rescue teams found survivors who spent hours with water up to their necks. The morgue got set up in Valencia justice courts basement where forensic teams worked to identify victims
The storm dumped years-worth of rain in just 8 hours causing the worst flooding since early 70s. Regional president Carlos Mazón asked for all available military forces to help with aid distribution. Local prosecutor office requested jail time for looters who took advantage of the disaster
