Helping Homeowners After Deadly Floods in Spain

In just eight hours, some areas of Spain received a year’s worth of rain, resulting in Europe’s deadliest flood disaster since 1967. Tragically, 223 lives have been lost. Samaritan’s Purse teams have been helping in Jesus’ Name in the Valencia region.

The Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Assistance Response Team has been hard at work in eastern Spain after the region received over a foot of rain on October 29, causing the Magro and Turia river basins and the Poyo canal to overflow. The flash flooding claimed the lives of at least 223 people with an unknown number still missing. As the water receded, it left totalled cars piled up in its wake and a thick layer of mud over everything—including the inside of homes and businesses.

“We are here at the church where we lost everything,” said Rosa, a pastor’s wife.

“It started at 6:30 at night. It wasn’t raining here so no one was expecting it, but the water came through like a tsunami. It entered the building next to us, and within two minutes a huge wave came, and it burst through the doors and walls. Cars, furniture, debris all piled up.”

Decision, a Spanish organisation that partners with Samaritan’s Purse in packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, quickly mobilised personnel to muck out homes, churches, and a local community college near “zona zero” or Ground Zero of the disaster. With the help from these volunteers, the school now serves as a community centre where victims can process recovery paperwork.

One of the volunteers named Marco said, “We are in Catarroja, one of the towns most affected. Believe me when I say that you can feel the emotion of being here and helping people who have suffered much. Just being here helping…I am without words.”

So far in the response, Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Assistance Response Team has worked through local churches to supply four congregations with generators, rubbish pumps, pressure washers, shovels, boots, gloves, masks, and Bibles. At five congregations, we’re operating a micro-grant program to help with immediate needs. We are also providing machinery to skilled tradesmen to help the communities rebuild.

In addition, we worked alongside the municipal government of Paiporta to restore internet connectivity to their emergency dispatchers and government staff.

“We are here doing the work that God has called us to do, to help our neighbour,” said Leonel with Decision.

“In one hand we have a shovel, and in the other we have a helping hand for another person who needs emotional support or an encouraging word because the tears run down their face. It has been a blessing to bring hope.”

Rosa attests to the encouragement the teams have brought. “We give thanks because we are alive, and we see the hand of God working in general through His people to help us and strengthen us. We lost everything, but we know that God will make all things new.”

Please pray for the Valencia region of Spain as they continue to recover from these historic floods. Ask God to comfort and encourage families who lost loved ones as well as those who are still without answers regarding the whereabouts of their friends and relatives. Pray also for Samaritan’s Purse staff and local congregations as they serve the flood victims in Jesus’ Name.