Four deaths reported as DANA Adam flooding prompts more than 1 000 rescues in eastern Spain
DANA Adam brought torrential rain and severe flooding to eastern Spain from October 17 to 19, 2026, prompting restrictions across 145 municipalities in Valencia and Alicante. Emergency services carried out more than 1 000 rescues on October 19, while four deaths were reported during the wider storm episode and AEMET said Pego received 632 mm (24.9 inches) of rain in 36 hours.
Floods in the residential area near the beach of Rafalcaid, in the town of Gandia, Valencia, Spain on October 19, 2026. Credit: EFE/Natxo French
Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) named Adam the first high-impact DANA of the 2026–27 season. DANA is the Spanish abbreviation for an isolated upper-level low, or depresión aislada en niveles altos.
In Special Notice 37/2026, issued at 13:39 LT (11:39 UTC) on October 18, AEMET forecast more than 60–90 mm (2.4–3.5 inches) in one hour and up to 200–300 mm (7.9–11.8 inches) in 12 hours along the southern Valencia coast and around Cape La Nao. Local totals of 300–400 mm (11.8–15.7 inches) were forecast over the full episode, with isolated higher amounts possible.
AEMET said Pego, Alicante, received 632 mm (24.9 inches) of rain in 36 hours. The agency’s observations showed 465.2 mm (18.3 inches) at Pego on October 19 alone; operational observations are provisional and undergo only real-time quality control.
Three deaths were reported in the Valencian Community. A 79-year-old woman with reduced mobility was found dead on the ground floor of her home in Oliva, while her niece was rescued alive. A 64-year-old man died after suffering a heart attack at a flooded campsite in the same municipality.
A 54-year-old woman was found dead after entering the sea at Sagunto during the storm. In Catalonia, a 35-year-old woman was swept into the Cabrera de Mar stream on October 17, and her body was recovered the following day near the port of Premià de Mar.
A farmer was found dead in the Pego–Oliva marsh on October 20. Guardia Civil sources told EFE that preliminary information indicated a medical emergency, and investigators had not linked the death to the flooding. He is not included in the four-death total.
A separate death near Benaoján, Málaga, occurred when a rock fell onto a vehicle, but authorities had not confirmed a connection with the storm as of October 20. That death is also excluded from the flood death toll.
The Generalitat imposed confinement and mobility restrictions in 145 municipalities across southern Valencia and northern Alicante. Residents were instructed to remain home, avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from rivers, ravines, channels and flooded roads.
Regional Emergency and Interior Minister Juan Carlos Valderrama said all emergency services carried out more than 1 000 air and ground rescues on October 19. In its own operational balance, the Guardia Civil reported 496 rescues, including 423 in Valencia and 73 in Alicante, and 2 141 evacuations.
By 07:00 LT (05:00 UTC) on October 20, the 112 Emergency Coordination Center had handled 1 876 incidents since 13:57 LT (11:57 UTC) on October 17. These included 1 259 incidents in Valencia province, 595 in Alicante and 22 in Castellón.
Improving conditions on the evening of October 19 allowed authorities to lift the remaining restrictions in Bellreguard, Piles, Miramar, Oliva and Daimús in Valencia and Xàbia, Pego and Els Poblets in Alicante.
The Military Emergency Unit was demobilized, the regional emergency level was reduced to situation 1, and shelters remained open in Xàbia and Oliva for residents unable to return home.
As of the morning of October 20, Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic reported 10 affected roads in the Valencian Community, including seven in Alicante province and three in Valencia. The AP-7 remained closed near Pilar de la Horadada, while several secondary routes around Pego, Dénia, Beniarbeig, Bellreguard and Oliva were also affected.
Schools remained closed on October 20 in Miramar, Oliva, Bellreguard, Piles, El Verger and Els Poblets.
The Valencian government announced an aid package for affected municipalities and said it would ask the national government to designate the affected area as seriously impacted by a civil-protection emergency.
AEMET forecast the remaining instability to decrease through October 20, although locally strong or very strong showers remained possible in parts of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands during the first half of the day.
References:
1 Special Notice 37/2026: Very strong and persistent showers and thunderstorms – AEMET – October 18, 2026
2 Farmer found dead in the Pego–Oliva marsh after DANA Adam flooding – EFE – October 20, 2026
3 Today and recent days: Pego – AEMET – observations for October 19, 2026
Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.
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