Southeastern Spain has recently suffered a once-in-a-century flood disaster, killing more than 200 people and leaving dozens missing, with the death toll expected to rise. This sudden disaster exposes the severity of global climate change and highlights the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building early warning systems. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) pointed out in a statement on Friday that the disaster in Spain once again reminded people that greenhouse gas emissions reduction is urgent and protecting lives should be the top priority.

Heavy rains caused severe floods and streets turned into rapids

The center of the disaster was in the Valencia region of Spain. The local heavy rains swept in like a tsunami, making the precipitation in just 8 hours equivalent to the total amount of the year. This extreme rainfall not only turned the streets into turbulent rapids, but also destroyed bridges and submerged vehicles. The overflow of rivers caused the embankment to burst, and thousands of people were trapped in their homes. Satellite images show that the floods covered a large area, almost connected to the adjacent Balearic Sea, causing some areas to become "islands in the water."

Three days after the disaster, Spanish radio and television were filled with cries for help from residents in the disaster area. Many survivors told their plight through the media, hoping to get emergency assistance. However, due to the serious damage to roads and bridges, the rescue supplies were delayed and the rescue operation was greatly hindered.

Reinforcements were deployed to rescue and continue to search for missing persons

Under the devastation of the flood, the Spanish government urgently sent rescue troops to the disaster area. Valencia Regional President Mason and Spanish Interior Minister Malaska announced that 500 soldiers had been sent to the disaster area to assist in disaster relief, and plans to send another 500. The primary task of these reinforcements is to reopen roads and ensure that relief supplies, especially food aid, can be delivered to the trapped areas. In addition, the rescue forces also assisted in the search for missing persons. It is estimated that the number of missing people may be very large, but the exact number is difficult to count.

Spanish Defense Minister Robles said that the government is ready to send up to 120,000 soldiers to fully support the disaster area until the flood threat is effectively controlled. He stressed that the government will mobilize all resources to help the disaster-stricken areas resume normal life and strive to help the affected people overcome difficulties in the shortest possible time.

WMO: Floods reflect the urgency of climate change

Against the background of frequent extreme weather caused by global climate change, the floods in Spain are undoubtedly another wake-up call. World Meteorological Organization spokesman Nulis said that the floods in Spain are just one of a series of extreme weather events this year, and similar disasters are frequently happening around the world. He pointed out that the warming of the atmosphere has accelerated the water cycle and exacerbated the occurrence of extreme precipitation. As the temperature rises, the water vapor content in the air increases, providing conditions for heavy rains. This makes climate events such as floods and droughts more severe and has a wider impact.

The latest "Global Water Resources Report" released by WMO also pointed out that rising temperatures have led to changes in the hydrological cycle, and the world is facing the dual challenges of excess and shortage of water resources. These changes have increased the risk of extreme climate events, especially heavy rains and floods like those in Spain. In the context of climate change, similar climate disasters may occur more frequently, bringing long-term impacts on the security and economy of the global community.

Urgent call for global efforts to strengthen emission reduction and early warning

Faced with frequent extreme weather, WMO calls on countries around the world to take immediate action to increase greenhouse gas emissions and strive to limit temperature rise within a safe range. In addition, WMO also stressed that the world needs to accelerate the construction of early warning systems so that it can better predict and respond to sudden climate disasters, thereby effectively reducing the loss of life and property.

In this disaster, many places in the Valencia region did not have a complete early warning system. A large number of victims were unprepared when the floods hit, resulting in heavy casualties. Therefore, the construction of early warning systems is crucial for all parts of the world, especially for climate-vulnerable areas. WMO believes that governments should actively invest resources to improve meteorological forecasting technology to ensure that citizens can receive disaster warnings in a timely manner and take risk avoidance measures.

The urgency of climate action: a key step to protect the future

The painful lessons of the Spanish floods show that the impact of climate change is no longer just a theoretical or future concern, but an imminent threat in reality. Meteorological experts pointed out that only by working together around the world to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can the increase in extreme weather events be effectively curbed. At the same time, strengthening the early warning system is not only an effective means to reduce casualties, but also a basis for helping society operate more safely and effectively under the challenge of climate change.

This flood has once again sounded the alarm for the world: climate change is not a distant threat, but a real moment that is affecting our lives. In the face of the severe situation of climate change, countries must take concrete actions, give priority to greenhouse gas emission reduction and environmental protection, and safeguard the long-term future of mankind and the earth.