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<ul class="summary-list"><li>At least 62 people have been killed in the worst flooding to hit Spain in decades.</li><li>Flash floods are becoming more common and more intense due to global warming.</li></ul>At least 62 people have been killed and many more are missing in the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spain-flooding-51-dead-in-valencia-region-economic-hub-2024-10">worst flooding to hit Spain in decades</a>.Torrential rain hit parts of the country on Tuesday, cutting off main roads, delaying flights, and damaging homes.The rain was the result of a weather phenomenon known as a cold drop, in which cold air moves over warm water.The warm air then rises rapidly, leading to the formation of huge cumulonimbus clouds capable of releasing violent downpours that can devastate towns and cities.Such extreme weather events have a huge human and economic cost — and scientists believe global warming, combined with the way humans have developed the natural landscape, will only make the problem worse.<h2 id="971184fb-8d33-48d1-979d-6445b6e539be">The cost of extreme weather</h2>Estimates for the economic costs of extreme weather and flooding vary, but many tend to agree that they are on the rise.According to the European Environment Agency, extreme weather in Europe caused economic losses of assets estimated at more than $800 billion between 1980 and 2023.Last year, a study by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/09/climate-crisis-cost-extreme-weather-damage-study">Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand</a> said the damage caused by the climate crisis through extreme weather has cost $16 million an hour for the past 20 years.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/01/extreme-weather-economic-cost-wef23/">The World Economic Forum</a> calculated that the cost of extreme events had increased nearly eight times globally, inflation-adjusted, since the 1970s.The impact of flash flooding can be particularly severe because, often, there is very little warning.<h2 id="8409be50-c212-466d-bbd2-62c416ac5204">Flash flooding in dry areas</h2>Flash floods are <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-flash-flood-warning-how-to-stay-safe-vermont-2023-7">different from regular flooding</a> because they develop quickly, in the span of a few hours or even minutes.They can be far more devastating in dry areas because parched soil tends to repel water rather than allow it to soak in.That means surges can result from as little as 10 millimeters in just one hour, according to a<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=3735d139977ac068c02d638e81b04695e0ab6b1d06970add3b44fafb88d52e11&amp;postID=6722014ce5b5408300715e9a&amp;postSlug=flash-floods-spain-increasing-globally-experts-infrastructure-change-2024-10&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-023-00626-9.epdf%3Fno_publisher_access%3D1%26r3_referer%3Dnature"> 2023 article in Nature</a>."Our analysis using the Emergency Events Database shows that, since 2000, such regions experienced less than half (47%) of deadly flash floods globally, yet saw almost three-quarters (74%) of related deaths," the authors wrote.The same researchers found that the rate of dryland flash flooding around the world was 20 times higher between 2000 and 2022 than it was between 1900 and 1999.Ernesto Rodríguez Camino, a senior state meteorologist and member of the Spanish Meteorological Association, said flash flooding is becoming more frequent, a trend which is set to continue because of the damaging effects of global warming."Events of this type, which used to occur many decades apart, are now becoming more frequent, and their destructive capacity is greater," he said.<h2 id="c6269754-7554-446d-a63e-b8d93fdbfdc3">Why are there more flash floods?</h2>The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a US-based nonprofit, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.edf.org/why-are-floods-hitting-more-places-and-people">said</a> flash flooding has intensified because of increased rainfall and heat waves.The rise in the world's average surface temperature — which was more than 2 Degrees Fahrenheit warmer in 2020 than it was 100 years ago — has resulted in more moisture and clouds in the air, the organization said.According to the EDF, modern infrastructure, including buildings, roads, and sidewalks, has eliminated natural landscape features that would have slowed flooding in the past.It added that stormwater systems designed to protect buildings are often too old and not vast enough to handle the increasing amount of major weather events caused by global warming.Additionally, houses are continuing to be built in areas that are prone to flooding, the organization said.The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.who.int/health-topics/floods#tab=tab_1">World Health Organization</a> (WHO) said people who live on floodplains or in buildings without flood protections or warning systems are most vulnerable.<h2 id="283c598d-eb50-4251-afb8-e7fbf0cb4832">What can be done?</h2><div type="image" title="Emergency workers clear debris the morning after heavy rains and flash floods hit the area on October 30, 2024 in Letur, Albacete province, Spain" height="3333" width="5000" msid="114787520" hostid="261" sizebytes="2262486"></div>Non-environmental factors, such as new infrastructure and better weather warnings, can help prevent the impact of flash flooding.Jess Neumann, an associate professor of Hydrology at the University of Reading, said that a long-term solution would involve the "radical redesign of urban areas.""Flash floods can affect anyone, anywhere. We take preparation for other hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis very seriously with education, drills, and emergency kits," she said. "It is time we afforded the same to flood risk preparedness."John Marsham, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Leeds, agrees with Neumann's assessment."Our entire infrastructure and civilization are based around a climate that no longer exists," he said, adding that some locations are becoming more difficult to insure against flood damage.Some cities are already considering better precautions for extreme weather events. For example, in 2022, the US Army Corps of Engineers unveiled its proposal to build a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/26/nyregion/storm-project-new-york-harbor-flooding.html">$52 billion moveable sea barrier</a> along the New York Harbor to protect against storm surges.These protections would also allow local economies to recover faster.The EDF reported that the average flood event from excessive rainfall in the US costs around $4.7 billion.Marsham and Liz Stephens, a professor in climate risks and resilience, said that local governments should also implement stronger warnings about the risks of flash flooding to prevent death and injuries."People shouldn't be dying from these kinds of forecasted weather events in countries where they have the resources to do better," Stephens said.

Flash floods are a worsening scourge worldwide — here's why

Shocking before and after photos show the devastation from flash floods in Spain

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Spain's eastern province of Valencia was hit by intense, historic rainfall.</li><li>51 people were killed in flash floods in the province.</li></ul>Historic flash floods in eastern Spain killed 51 people and roiled the region.The floods, brought about by torrential rains, killed 51 in the province of Valencia, regional emergency services <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/GVA112/status/1851541597092999643">said</a>, citing a provisional death toll.Though heavy rains are common in the region in fall — part of a phenomenon known as "cold drops" — this one was extreme.According to Spain's State Meteorological <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/AEMET_CValencia/status/1851494356521271313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1851494356521271313%7Ctwgr%5E525da56094d9d8f9387e40796aa4f86c244670c4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcadenaser.com%2Fnacional%2F2024%2F10%2F29%2Fconsecuencias-de-la-dana-en-espana-en-directo-ultima-hora-de-las-inundaciones-desaparecidos-y-problemas-en-los-trenes-ave-cadena-ser%2F">Agency</a>, it was a historic storm, the worst of the 21st century and more severe than anything since 1987.Images and videos from the region showed brown water surging through fields, blocking roads, and hitting some built-up areas.<div type="image" title="The roof of a car submerged in water following floods is pictured in Picuana, near Valencia, eastern Spain, on October 30, 2024." height="1296" width="2000" msid="114776446" hostid="261" sizebytes="105062"></div>The flooding seemed not to strongly hit Valencia, the regional hub and Spain's third-largest city.Per <a target="_blank" href="https://www.investinspain.org/en/regions/comunidad-valenciana/industrias-destacadas#:~:text=Automotive%2C%20machinery%20and%20capital%20goods,concentrates%2024%25%20of%20regional%20exports.">a Spanish government briefing</a>, the auto industry is the most significant in Valencia province. It also mentioned chemicals, manufacturing, agri-food and IT.It was not immediately clear whether particular industries or companies had been strongly affected by the floods.Valencia's government advised against road travel in the province due to "heavy" rain warnings in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/GVA112/status/1851506499224314148?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1851506499224314148%7Ctwgr%5E525da56094d9d8f9387e40796aa4f86c244670c4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcadenaser.com%2Fnacional%2F2024%2F10%2F29%2Fconsecuencias-de-la-dana-en-espana-en-directo-ultima-hora-de-las-inundaciones-desaparecidos-y-problemas-en-los-trenes-ave-cadena-ser%2F">alert texts</a> sent to residents in the early hours of Wednesday, local time.In an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/oscar_puente_/status/1851415872843215275?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1851415872843215275%7Ctwgr%5E525da56094d9d8f9387e40796aa4f86c244670c4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcadenaser.com%2Fnacional%2F2024%2F10%2F29%2Fconsecuencias-de-la-dana-en-espana-en-directo-ultima-hora-de-las-inundaciones-desaparecidos-y-problemas-en-los-trenes-ave-cadena-ser%2F">X post</a> on Wednesday, Spain's transport minister said there would be no train service on the railway line connecting Valencia to Madrid, the Spanish capital, until at least 10 a.m. local time.On Tuesday, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/sanchezcastejon/status/1851334094535131602">said</a> he was closely following reports of missing people and damage caused by the storm and that all emergency services were being dispatched in response to the storm.In an X <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://x.com/mjosecatala/status/1851561473631191545">post</a> on Wednesday, Valencia city mayor said the province is facing one of the "most difficult and painful" moments in its history.

Spain hit by flash floods that killed 51 people and roiled an economic hub

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Multiple <keyword id="19899232" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="disney" source="keywords">Disney</keyword> World employees told BI about their disappointment with how the company handled Milton.</li><li>Cash-strapped employees felt pressured to work well into the afternoon as weather forecasts looked increasingly dire.</li></ul>Rain began falling over Orlando early Wednesday morning as Hurricane Milton barreled toward the Sunshine State. Forecasts predicted violent winds, flash flooding, and tornadoes to reach the region by late afternoon. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-disney-parks-top-destinations-millennials-gen-z-2023-9#:~:text=Child%2Dfree%20millennials%20and%20Gen,Disney%20adults'%20on%20the%20parks.">The Walt Disney World Resort</a> was still open for business. "Everyone was in a rush to get out of there, and it was scary not knowing how the weather was going to be on the ride home," a parks worker told Business Insider. BI spoke to four employees who work in the various parks at Disney World. They expressed their disappointment with how the company managed scheduling, logistics, and safety precautions in the hours leading up to Hurricane Milton's arrival, from refusing to cancel work as weather conditions worsened to engaging in what sources described as infrequent communication that left employees feeling like they were flying blind. These workers — called "cast members" — requested their names and roles remain anonymous, citing fears of possible reprisals from Disney. Their identities are known to BI. Shutdowns are costly: Before the storm, Goldman Sachs <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/08/hurrican-milton-could-hit-disney-earnings-goldman-says.html">estimated</a> the hurricane could cost Disney's lucrative parks division up to $200 million. The company also had to balance workers' well-being with serving eager guests who pay thousands for what can be once-in-a-lifetime experiences. <h2>Workers stayed well into the afternoon to close things up</h2>Disney closed its four parks early on Wednesday due to the storm. Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom closed at 1 p.m. for guests, and Magic Kingdom and <keyword id="23582995" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="epcot" source="keywords">Epcot</keyword> closed at 2 p.m. Even before closing, though, the parks started to feel like wet and rainy ghost towns, cast members told BI. Attendance at Magic Kingdom, the park best known for its storybook castle, dwindled to roughly 10%, the first employee estimated. "I wish the park wouldn't have opened up for the day at all," the employee added. Still, workers told BI that staff were expected to stay on hand through and after closing to help batten down the hatches, which left some feeling unsettled and unsafe. By around 2:45 p.m., when one of the workers said they left, the weather in Orange County, where Disney World is located, was worsening. A tornado warning would be issued for southeastern Orange County at 3:22 p.m. and another for south central Orange County at 4:28 p.m. In addition to those who spoke with BI, people who identified themselves as Disney parks workers took to social media, posting on TikTok and X, voicing similar complaints and sharing what it was like working in a mostly-empty amusement park as the tempest closed in. In a statement, a Walt Disney World spokesperson said the company prioritizes the well-being of those on park grounds. "Safety is always our first and most important factor when making decisions that will affect our cast members and guests," the statement read, "and throughout the storm, we provided frequent and timely updates on our changes to make sure they returned home hours before the worst of the weather reached Central Florida." <h2>Workers faced a dilemma</h2>To look after stranded guests, Disney runs a special "ride-out" program, where staffers collect slightly extra pay than the norm by volunteering to work <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/family-weathered-hurricane-milton-at-disney-hotel-2024-10">hotel</a> duty during a storm. The Disney spokesperson said that roughly 5,000 cast members in Florida volunteered to work ride-out shifts. But parks workers who spoke to BI pointed out that ride-out shifts happen when workers put their hands up to complete them, and come with a room where employees can sleep during a storm. That's different from the shifts that cast members worked. Some cash-strapped employees felt like they couldn't afford the luxury of skipping out on a chunk of their pay, sources said. At Disney World, workers' minimum wage starts at $18 an hour. On Wednesday, some employees faced a dilemma: Work until their managers told them their shift was done, even if it meant staying in the face of dire weather forecasts, or leave early but accept fractional pay only for the hours they worked. "They were like, 'We need our money. We want our money,'" recalled the first parks worker, who completed a full shift and only learned about the pay reductions by reading an explanation of the policy that someone had scrawled on a board backstage. Those who stayed a full shift said they wished they'd had more time to get gas and groceries before the storm came ashore. The Disney spokesperson said gas stations were open on the property specifically for cast members, but three of the parks employees who spoke to BI said they hadn't heard of such a service. "No one I know knew anything about that," said a second employee, adding, "I tried to get gas on property on Tuesday and was unable to," since the pump was empty. Disney also closed several hotels — including Fort Wilderness Resort &amp; Campground, the Copper Creek Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, and the Treehouse Villas at the Saratoga Springs Resort &amp; Spa — at 11 a.m. Wednesday. An employee at one of those properties said some managers instructed staffers to stay for another four hours, until 3 p.m,. to complete a full shift — even though, by midday, the rain was coming down hard, and there was almost nothing to do on the job. <h2>Back to work</h2>While Disney's parks remained closed to guests Thursday, BI viewed a screenshot of an internal communication showing that the company expected some workers to participate in Thursday's clean-up efforts. "After the storm, we may need Cast to help with post-storm recovery efforts," read the message, which was posted on Cast Life, an app Disney uses to share mass updates with staffers. "Cast scheduled to work on Oct. 10 — even in areas that will not be opening to Guests — should continue to call local area <keyword id="23582996" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cast-hotlines" source="keywords">Cast Hotlines</keyword> and check their schedule on Disney Cast Life Web / App for information regarding their schedule." "The fact that they not only expect me to call but potentially go out in the parks to clean up is crazy," the second Disney employee said, adding: "It's sickening." Ultimately, this person elected not to go in on Thursday, regardless of whether they would face consequences. "I don't feel safe driving at 7 a.m. tomorrow when this is all over," they said on Wednesday evening. "Orlando is just unique because, yes, we are inland, but we see scary rain and terrifying winds. And just because we aren't washed away and dealing with storm surge and structural damage doesn't mean it isn't scary." When asked whether they could call the Disney coordinators to request an excuse from work, sources said it wasn't that simple. Employees with unexcused absences have historically been slapped with "points," or demerits on their records, they noted. A proliferation of points can lead to a reprimand and, ultimately, the potential to be fired. "Your house could be underwater, and they would be like, 'Well, call out and take the point,'" the second Disney employee said, recalling past hurricanes when cast members stressed about how they'd get to work. With 80,000 staffers, the Disney World Resort is one of the largest single-site employers in the United States. It's the crown jewel of the Disney empire, which generated $5.8 billion across its domestic parks and cruises in the three months ending June 29. Are you a Disney employee with a story to share? Contact this reporter. <keyword id="23582993" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reed-alexander" source="keywords">Reed Alexander</keyword> can be reached via email at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:ralexander@businessinsider.com">ralexander@businessinsider.com</a>, or SMS/the encrypted app Signal at (561) 247-5758. Correction: October 11, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated when Orange County was under a tornado warning. Parts of Orange County were under a tornado warning at 3:22 p.m. and 4:28 p.m. on October 9.

Disney World employees felt pressured to stay and work despite forecasts of looming tornadoes and flash floods in the hours leading up to Hurricane Milton

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The United Arab Emirates experienced torrential rainfall and flash floods, beginning late Monday.</li><li>Videos appear to show planes taxiing down flooded runways at Dubai International Airport. </li></ul>Torrential rainfall pummeled the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dubai-laser-beam-shooting-drones-shock-rain-from-the-sky-2021-7">United Arab Emirates</a> this week, resulting in flash floods that caused air travel chaos, closed schools, and deluged homes.The rain began late Monday, flooding the UAE with more than half a foot (6.26 inches) of water in 24 hours, according to the Dubai Meteorological Office and cited by <a target="_blank" href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/dubai-flooding-heavy-rainfall/story?id=109321601&amp;cid=social_twitter_abcn">ABC News</a>. That is more than two years' worth of rain in one day, the outlet noted.There are claims that cloud seeding may have played a role in the flash floods. The practice sees planes inject clouds with chemicals that can increase rainfall.One fatality was reported by police at the time of writing on Wednesday: A 70-year-old man died in Ras al-Khaimah when his vehicle was swept away in the flooding.Flooding also occurred in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. In Oman, 19 people died in flash floods, according to local media.<div type="image" title="Dubai road flooding" height="1333" width="1777" msid="109374524" hostid="261" sizebytes="433068"></div>Dubai International Airport — recently named the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/dubai-international-airport-most-luxurious-airport-in-world-study-8603681">most luxurious airport</a> in the world — said planes were diverted. Some services now appear to have restarted.<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/gunsnrosesgirl3/status/1780307713592897542">Unverified videos</a> on social media appeared to show heavily flooded tarmac, with large passenger airplanes creating waves and taxiing through several feet of water.The airport did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider about the videos.<div type="image" title="Vehicles drive on a flooded road during torrential rain in the Gulf Emirate of Dubai on April 16, 2024." height="683" width="1024" msid="109361170" hostid="261"></div>"We advise you NOT to come to the airport, unless absolutely necessary," an airport spokesperson <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/DXB/status/1780461316605456559">wrote on X</a> on Wednesday.They added that planes continue to be delayed and diverted.An unnamed couple told the AP that the situation at the airport is "absolute carnage," with some passengers sleeping there or at the Metro station.<div type="image" title="car flood" height="1333" width="2000" msid="109374526" hostid="261" sizebytes="129776"></div>Dubai recieved more than 5.6 inches of rain by Tuesday evening, around the amount it typically gets in a year and a half, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://news.sky.com/story/carnage-at-dubai-airport-as-uae-hit-by-heaviest-rainfall-in-75-years-13116978">Sky News.</a>It marks its heaviest rainfall in 75 years, according to a WAM news agency cited by Sky News.In a post shared on X, the UAE's National Centre of Meteorology showed the regions that have been most affected. <h2>The UAE may have been playing rainmaker by cloud seeding</h2>While images of extreme flooding can show the consequences of the climate crisis, this particular event may have been worsened by a direct attempt to play <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-expanding-weather-modification-program-artificial-rain-snow-2025-2020-12">rainmaker</a> — literally.To address water scarcity in the typically dry country, the UAE started using a practice referred to as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/controlling-weather-in-future-2018-5">cloud seeding</a> in the 90s and early 2000s.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.dri.edu/cloud-seeding-program/what-is-cloud-seeding/">Cloud seeding</a> is a method designed to increase the amount of water that falls from a cloud. It involves identifying suitable clouds and then using aircraft or ground-based generators to introduce a chemical agent that facilitates the production of snowflakes.Cloud seeding has been used in countries worldwide, including in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/story/cloud-seeding-takes-flight-in-western-us-76737400">western US states</a> dealing with drought, like California, Colorado, Nevada, Idaho, and Texas.<div type="image" title="Vehicles are stranded on a flooded street following torrential rain in the Gulf Emirate of Dubai on April 16, 2024." height="683" width="1024" msid="109361171" hostid="261"></div>The practice has long been controversial, with critics dismissing it as an attempt to "play God" or being potentially harmful to the environment or public health. Scientists have not documented the harmful impacts of cloud seeding, and <a target="_blank" href="https://e360.yale.edu/features/can-cloud-seeding-help-quench-the-thirst-of-the-u.s.-west">recent studies</a> have suggested that the practice works.Ahmed Habib, a specialist meteorologist, told <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-16/dubai-grinds-to-standstill-as-cloud-seeding-worsens-flooding">Bloomberg</a> that the UAE's cloud seeding operations contributed directly to the heavy rainfall that fell this week.<div type="image" title="vehicle dubai" height="1332" width="1776" msid="109374527" hostid="261" sizebytes="111964"></div>Habib told the outlet that two planes conducted cloud seeding operations on Monday and Tuesday and that seven seeding missions had been carried out in two days.Flight-tracking data analyzed by the AP suggested that an aircraft affiliated with the UAE's cloud-seeding project flew around the country Sunday."For any cloud that's suitable over the UAE you make the operation," Habib told Bloomberg.<div type="image" title="A submerged duty machine is seen after heavy rain in United Arab Emirates on April 16, 2024." height="2867" width="3693" msid="109361172" hostid="261"></div>The UAE's weather bureau said no cloud seeding had taken place during Tuesday's rain, according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2024/04/16/live-weather-rain-dubai/">National News. </a>It did not immediately respond to a request by BI for comment.Chris England, a weather producer at Sky News, said he doesn't believe cloud seeing to be a reason behind the floods as evidence of it working is "pretty slim at best."Despite warning citizens to remain home during the heavy rain, the UAE government's press office said they were "rains of goodness," as the country has dealt with a rise in <a target="_blank" href="https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2023/07/20/UAE-doctors-say-serious-cases-of-heat-stroke-on-the-rise-amid-soaring-temperatures">heat-related illnesses and deaths</a> that some hope can be alleviated by an increase in rainfall.Schools across the UAE continued to be closed on Wednesday, and employees are working from home, according to the Sky News report.

Photos show Dubai overwhelmed by torrential rain &mdash; and may expose the downsides of trying to control the weather

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Spain's eastern province of Valencia was hit hard by intense flooding last week.</li><li>The government has pledged $11 billion to help it recover, but local authorities want $34 billion.</li></ul>Spain said it will give about $11 billion to help restore Valencia after flash floods hammered the province last week — but local authorities there want three times that amount.Historic, deadly flash floods — brought about by torrential rainfall — hit the area last week, killing at least 211, regional emergency services <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/GVA112/status/1853698255730942163">said</a> on Wednesday.Spain's State Meteorological <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spain-flooding-51-dead-in-valencia-region-economic-hub-2024-10">Agency</a> said last week that it was the province's most severe storm since 1987.During a press conference on Tuesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said his government had <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/sanchezcastejon/status/1853796678265938374">approved</a> $11.55 billion in loans and grants to help storm and flood victims.However, a day earlier, the province's president, Carlos Mazón, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/carlos_mazon_/status/1853555363678728545">said</a> local authorities had asked for an initial package equivalent to about $34 billion."The measures will serve to rebuild, relaunch, and mitigate the effects" of the storm, Mazón told reporters.<div type="image" title="Satellite images of the Valencia province before and after flash floods on October 25, 2022 (left), and October 30, 2024 (right)." height="480" width="640" msid="114986283" hostid="261" sizebytes="62758"></div>On Saturday, Valencia's Chamber of Commerce <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.camaravalencia.com/noticias/informe-sobre-danos-provocados-por-la-dana-en-los-municipios-mas-afectados-y-consecuencias-sobre-la-actividad-economica/">estimated</a> that up to 4,500 businesses had suffered notable damage, with potentially 1,800 severely impacted.The floods affected many economic sectors, including agriculture, industry, and services, it said.Automaking remains Valencia's most <a target="_blank" href="https://www.investinspain.org/en/regions/comunidad-valenciana/industrias-destacadas?#nameRegion">important industry</a>.Cristina del Rey, the communications director for Ford Spain, told BI last week that her company's Valencia plant had not suffered direct damage from the floods but was shut on Wednesday and Thursday.According to a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://fundacionaon.es/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BAROMETRO-DE-CATASTROFES-2021.pdf">report</a> from the Aon Spain Foundation, a private foundation that works to prevent and assist with natural disasters, the annual cost of natural disasters in Spain between 2016 and 2021, including floods, was between $940 million and $2.5 billion.Local authorities on Sunday <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/GVA112/status/1853692672327721128/photo/1">said</a> that the heavy rains — part of a phenomenon known as "cold drops" — had caused "unprecedented" damage to infrastructure and human life.The provisional death toll put it among the most serious natural disasters in Western Europe in recent years. Widespread flooding in July 2021 killed more than 200 people in Belgium, Germany, and surrounding countries.At a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1ynJODVpRdXxR">press conference</a> on Tuesday, Sánchez declared Valencia a disaster area, paving the way for extra funding for local authorities.He said about 15,000 soldiers and police officers had been dispatched to the province, as well as 287 forest brigaders, around a hundred customs officers, 44 forensic physicians, and 600 specialized vehicles for pumping, cleaning, and supplying the affected areas.Sánchez added that 98% of affected households now had power, and about 25 miles of roads and 46 miles of railway tracks had been repaired."We must continue working with more resources, more coordination, and greater effort until normality returns to all the municipalities and to all the homes affected by this tragedy," he said.

Counting the cost of Spain's hellish floods, the government pledged $11B, local officials want $34B

The <keyword id="19900359" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Navy" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian Navy" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Indian Navy">Indian Navy</keyword> has started rapid preparations to deploy <keyword id="19940434" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="humanitarian-assistance" source="keywords">Humanitarian Assistance</keyword> and <keyword id="20018481" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="disaster-relief" source="keywords">Disaster Relief</keyword> (HADR) operations in response to the devastating flash floods in Myanmar, in response to <keyword id="23060948" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Typhoon-Yagi" source="keywords">Typhoon Yagi</keyword>. The typhoon, which has originated from the South China Sea, is being recognised as the most powerful storm in Asia this year. The Eastern Naval Command, in coordination with the Eastern Fleet, Base Victualling Yard (BVY), Material Organisation, and INHS Kalyani, has completed the overnight loading of essential relief supplies onto naval ships set to depart from Visakhapatnam. The supplies include critical items such as HADR gear, drinking water, rations, and medicines. These materials are being sent to Yangon. "This rapid mobilisation comes despite the short notice, showcasing the Navy's ability to swiftly respond to humanitarian crises in the region," the Ministry stated. Earlier on Sunday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday, informed that, as a part of <keyword id="23180167" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Operation-Sadbhav" source="keywords">Operation Sadbhav</keyword>, the government has dispatched humanitarian aid to Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos. In a post on X, External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar said, "India launches Operation Sadbhav. Demonstrating our solidarity with the people affected by Typhoon Yagi, India is dispatching aid to Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos. 10 tons of aid including dry ration, clothing and medicines left for Myanmar onboard Indian Navy INS Satpura today. @IAF_MCC is carrying 35 tons of aid comprising of water purification items, water containers, blankets, kitchen utensils, solar lanterns for Vietnam. 10 tons of aid comprising genset, water purification items, hygiene supplies, mosquito nets, blankets and sleeping bags for Laos." Typhoon Yagi, recognised as the most powerful storm in Asia this year, has had a devastating impact across southern China and Southeast Asia over the past week. The storm, characterised by intense rainfall and powerful winds, initially struck the Philippines, causing over a dozen fatalities. The storm has been characterised by its intense rainfall and formidable winds, leading to substantial loss of life and extensive damage, CNN reported. The typhoon first made landfall in the Philippines, where it claimed the lives of over a dozen people. After striking the Philippines, Yagi continued its westward journey, impacting southern China before affecting parts of Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. Almost a week after it initially hit, many regions in northern Vietnam and northern Thailand are still underwater. The relentless flooding has caused widespread disruption, and communities are facing severe challenges as they attempt to cope with the aftermath. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/arkade-developers-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/113384216.cms">Arkade Developers IPO – Price band to risk factors, all you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/xiaomi-and-samsung-accused-of-colluding-with-amazon-and-flipkart/articleshow/113381204.cms">Xiaomi and Samsung accused of colluding with Amazon and Flipkart</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/motorola-edge-50-neo-with-dimensity-7300-50mp-camera-launched-in-india/articleshow/113386868.cms">Motorola Edge 50 Neo with Dimensity 7300, 50MP camera launched in India</a>

Indian Navy gears up for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief in Myanmar amid Typhoon Yagi

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Jesús Lucero Ezquerro, who lives in Valencia, was in disbelief when he saw the damage from floods.</li><li>He said people in the path of the waters got little advance warning.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jesús Lucero Ezquerro, 28, who lives in the Poblats Marítims district of Valencia, Spain.The region has been ravaged by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spain-flooding-51-dead-in-valencia-region-economic-hub-2024-10">flash floods</a>. Ezquerro spoke to BI on Thursday. The following has been edited for length and clarity.I've lived in Valencia for four years. Everything seemed normal on Monday — literally, nothing happened.But at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, things started getting ugly in most of the province. It was starting to rain and get very windy.Around 7:30 p.m., we started getting texts from local authorities alerting us of heavy rains and urging us to stay home.I said to myself: "Holy cow! But it's not raining here." I'm north of the river Turia in Valencia, so I wasn't affected and it hardly rained.I was shocked and alarmed by the images I started seeing on social media of people south of the river. People <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://x.com/ElPorteroRumano/status/1851631998722269659">stuck in </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://x.com/MeteOrihuela/status/1851375778216251428">trees</a>, people being pulled from a torrent <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@elespanolcom/video/7431854392258628897">by rope</a>, people <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://x.com/Ji_Predicciones/status/1851566884841259359">screaming.</a>I didn't have a car or any vehicle when the storm hit, so I couldn't do anything but stay put. I wasn't scared as I don't have a business to worry about and live on the fifth floor of my building.But I was and still am worried about those affected and the innocent lives being lost. By the time the alerts came, the storm had already hit.<h2 id="ca3c0d9a-c56b-47b5-a2d6-569f84ce2140">Back to the Middle Ages</h2>The next day, a friend and I biked to see the damage in southern Valencia, the area most affected by the storm.The metropolitan transport system had collapsed, the subways were flooded, and the buses could not access some areas.Before even reaching the area, we saw trucks and cars crowded on the road south of the river alike fallen dominoes.<div type="image" title="Cars left thrown on top of each other after a storm struck Valencia, Spain, in a picture taken on October 30, 2024." height="1200" width="1600" msid="114856601" hostid="261" sizebytes="43580"></div>The streets were full of dirt, covered with mud and water. People to the south of the river had no power or signal. It was like going back to the Middle Ages.We also helped a group of young people clear a sidewalk. We were up to our eyebrows in mud.The police were there, but there were hardly any other emergency services in the area, as they were rescuing people who were at risk.Friends have lost their cars. Some have garages full of water and mud that they are cleaning. I don't know anyone close to me who died.We returned home in a state of shock, taking it all in.<div type="image" title="Jesús Lucero Ezquerro and a group of friends on a street in Valencia on October 31, 2024." height="2448" width="3264" msid="114856606" hostid="261" sizebytes="414184"></div><h2 id="1fe11538-3d27-4b56-8220-055f4526ea14">Left behind</h2>I am frustrated and angry.I have a background in marine environmental emergencies and forest fire management, and I now work for a company on a firebreak management and forest fire prevention project.So, I'm not a firefighter or a member of the military, but I've worked on environmental emergencies from an intelligence-gathering point of view.I know how to evacuate people, how to manage populations, and how to manage adverse situations. But that did not happen in Valencia.<h2 id="24b81fb8-4f22-4359-a97e-6f0760015239">Worse than Hurricane Milton</h2>I remember watching the news of Hurricane Milton hitting Florida last month and how Floridians were preparing for it.Residents boarded up their windows with large wooden panels; store owners were getting ready for it, and people evacuated.The Tampa mayor even urged people to leave and said that anyone who stayed would die.After Hurricane Milton, there <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3zdg2wlvqo#:~:text=One%20of%20at%20least%20a,died%20across%20the%20US%20state.">were at least 16 deaths.</a> Meanwhile, here in Valencia, it's already about 10 times as many.The Spanish Meteorological Agency had issued an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.antena3.com/noticias/el-tiempo/actualidad/dana-valencia-que-pasaron-mas-10-horas-alerta-aemet-aviso-moviles-alert_20241031672370a3d058410001ca758c.html">alert days before</a> the storm. But on Tuesday, nothing happened. There was absolute calm in the morning. People were going to work and to university. When the local alerts came, the storm was already happening.<h2 id="27ab23b6-b666-4dce-ada9-fd22df28f8fa">A wake-up call</h2>Undoubtedly, human errors were made. I've never seen anything like it.In a country like Spain, with the means, agencies, and intelligence we have, it is horrible that this happened.At a certain point, authorities were saying 50 dead, then 60, then 70, then 90. To me, that doesn't sound like much. I believe that when the waters recede and the mud clears, more dead bodies will be found.

I live in Valencia, Spain, where flooding has taken over 100 lives. I can hardly believe what's happened here.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Four teens won $50,000 and first place at this year's Earth Prize competition.</li><li>The Earth Prize is the world's largest environmental competition for teens.</li></ul>George Cheng thinks a lot about flooding.In his home state North Carolina, hurricanes and tropical storms cause annual flooding that damages homes, farms, and crop fields. Cheng is also close to people from India whose families were affected by the heavy 2023 floods.In the not-so-distant future, the 18-year-old MIT freshman plans to unveil an app that forecasts local flooding in a new way, better informing those at risk and helping them evacuate in time.The concept earned Cheng, along with a team of three <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teen-wins-isef-science-fair-grand-prize-discovery-biomedical-devices-2024-5">fellow teens</a>, first place and $50,000 at this year's Earth Prize competition in May. Cheng plans to use his share to help pay for his college degree.<h2 id="274f79bf-64b3-456f-8f01-8c248331ba34">A new way to visualize flood risk</h2><div type="image" title="colorful computer simulation showing peaks and valleys of a 100 square mile region" height="942" width="1136" msid="113135189" hostid="261" sizebytes="70260"></div>The Earth Prize, launched in 2021, is the world's largest environmental competition for teens. Competitors submit physical models and computational projects designed to address issues related to waste, pollution, the environment, and other themes.Cheng and his team decided to focus on the widespread threat to human lives that climate change poses, particularly via flooding.An estimated <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=577ddf9139da21c51fcdcacc983198ed420ffacdb8519ea1f8436b575f777e7b&amp;postID=66cd0447b6269761a73bcf60&amp;postSlug=teens-win-50000-earth-prize-flood-forecasting-model-2024-8&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41467-022-30727-4">1.8 billion</a> people worldwide are at risk of devastating flooding that can destroy homes and claim lives. As climate change drives up sea levels and increases precipitation, experts project flooding to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-new-york-city-nyc-floods-are-getting-worse-2023-9">worsen</a>.Cheng and his teammates hope their project, called FloodGate, can help people at risk.The problem with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-climate-change-crisis-extreme-weather-is-costing-you-2023-9">current forecasts</a> is that it can be hard to interpret how a storm or flash flood will affect you directly. For example, if the weather forecast says it's going to rain five inches in your town, it's hard to know what kind of effect that will have on your home and whether you should evacuate.That's what FloodGate eventually aims to answer.For The Earth Prize, the team designed a computer model to construct a 3D map of a 100-square-mile region.Then, they combined that model with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-deepmind-ai-weather-forecast-accuracy-2023-11">AI and real-time weather forecasts</a> to predict detailed flood risks for that region.The model is still in its early stage, said Yung Yoong Sze, an Earth Prize mentor who consulted with the FloodGate team.Ultimately, the team wants to use their model to translate weather forecasts into pictures. So when you open the app, you can see the physical consequences of five inches of rain in your area because it'll show you how much of your home or crop field could be underwater."Our model kind of puts the numbers with the images. I think it's more effective than just the numbers itself," Cheng said.<h2 id="e832d718-fb29-42df-96bc-d77fa3284ddc">What sets FloodGate apart</h2><div type="image" title="hundreds of tiny blue dots connected by thin lines, the computer image simulated flooding tributary connectivity to help predict flood risk" height="744" width="1274" msid="113135188" hostid="261" sizebytes="184456"></div>The team's novel flood forecasting system beat 979 other competing projects for first place."What it had is amazing programming, a very useful app, and fantastic broader application that could actually save lives and have a positive impact on the environment," said Jonathan Baillie, another Earth Prize mentor who worked with the FloodGate team.The Earth Prize is not a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teens-win-fifty-thousand-for-ultrasound-microplastic-filtration-device-2024-5">typical science fair competition</a> where competitors either work alone or with teammates. The Earth Foundation, which sponsors The Earth Prize and is now accepting applications for 2025, provides each competing team with resources and expert mentors to help them develop and advance their projects before the final presentation."I could help them position it and talk about why what they had done was so amazing and how it could be more broadly applied globally," said Baillie, who is president of the nonprofit conservation organization Natural State.FloodGate's model only works for US locations, but the team hopes to eventually expand.That will require broader data sets that can incorporate information from places outside the US, including Africa and Southeast Asia, Yoong Sze said.Showing flood risk is only part of the final vision. Ultimately, Cheng and the team want their product to have a built-in warning system, "kind of like a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/things-you-should-never-do-during-a-hurricane-2019-7">hurricane evacuation system</a>," Cheng said.Cheng said the team hopes to unveil the app by the end of 2025.

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I live in Valencia, Spain, where flooding has taken over 100 lives. I can hardly believe what's happened here.

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