EUROACE continues to welcome students to Valencia city!
As many of you may already be aware, last week, the surrounding areas of Valencia were severely impacted by a powerful DANA, which brought intense rainfall, flooding, and widespread disruption. Luckily, the city of Valencia was largely spared but the surrounding towns and communities faced significant challenges as the storm unleashed a lot of caos on roads, homes, and infrastructure. The damage in these areas has been substantial, and many residents are now working around the clock to recover from the effects of this unexpected weather event.
In today’s blog, we’ll be addressing some of the most common questions we’ve received following the storm, as well as providing a general update on the situation both in Valencia city as well as the surrounding towns.
Did the storm affect Valencia city?
As mentioned above, Valencia city itself was largely spared from the worst of the storm’s effects and this is larely thanks to the city’s exceptional infrastructure, particularly the Turia River diversion.
In the 1950s, following devastating floods, Valencia took a bold step by rerouting the Turia River away from the city and in the 1960´s engineers began the monumental task of diverting the river’s course, which involved building a new channel to the south of the city. This new riverbed, which now serves as the Turia Gardens, transformed what was once a flood-prone area into a vibrant green space and park that stretches over 9 kilometers through the heart of the city.
This diversion not only turned the riverbed into a beautiful public space but also significantly reduced the risk of flooding in the city during heavy rains. In addition, the advanced drainage systems and flood management measures in place across the city have proven effective in mitigating the impact of intense weather events.
What is the current situation in the surrounding towns?
The situation in the surrounding towns of Valencia remains challenging, but the community’s resilience is evident as people begin to recover from the aftermath of the storm. Many of the affected areas, including towns like Alzira, Carcaixent, Paiporta, Aldaia, Cullera and many others experienced severe flooding, which caused significant damage to homes, roads, and local businesses. The storm’s intensity left many residents stranded without electricity or water, and it took emergency teams several days to reach some of the hardest-hit areas.
Despite the initial shock, the recovery process is already underway. Local authorities, with the support of volunteers and organizations have been working tirelessly to clear debris, repair infrastructure, and provide aid to those in need. Temporary shelters have been set up, and many people have already started returning to their homes to begin the long process of cleaning and rebuilding.
Has the DANA affected Valencia city in any way?
While there were some transportation issues in the first few days—particularly with delays and some public transport interruptions—the situation has since stabilized and the city is functioning as normal. Apart from minor traffic and transport delays, the city of Valencia is has been completely unaffected and city services are functioning at full capacity. There has been minor distruption to some metro lines but the to combat this problem, increased bus services and other transportation modes have been created to help everyone travel easily around the city.
Bars, restaurants, and shops are welcoming locals and visitors, and the city’s museums and cultural attractions are following their usual hours after 3 days of official mourning for the victims. The vibrant energy of the city is the same as usual and residents and tourists are still exploring as they continue to appreciate all that Valencia has to offer.
A message from EUROACE
At EUROACE, our thoughts are with all the victims of the recent storm, and we stand in solidarity with the residents of the surrounding towns and areas affected. To try and help, our school is listed as a collection point and we are currently accepting donations such as canned food, cleaning and hygeine products and other essentials for those affected by the DANA.
Our school remains open, and classes are running as usual, with all teachers fully engaged and present. The DANA has not affected our school, neither any of our internship placements or accommodation services, and we continue to encourage everyone to visit Valencia and experience the city’s vibrant atmosphere and rich cultural offerings. While some surrounding areas have faced challenges, Valencia remains a welcoming and resilient place, and we are proud to be part of the community’s recovery.
Don’t forget to visit both our instagram & tik tok to stay updated on our current cultural activities, as well as some inside footage of our Spanish classes.
