The remnants of Hurricane Gabrielle were moving toward the Balearic Islands on Tuesday, keeping the islands of Ibiza, Formentera and Mallorca on orange alert after causing flooding along the Mediterranean coast, especially in the province of Valencia, just 11 months after last year’s devastating ‘DANA’ floods that claimed 235 lives there.
The storm also affected Murcia, Zaragoza and southern Tarragona, with more than 200 litres per square metre in Amposta. By Tuesday, the storm was shifting towards the Balearic Islands and the Alicante province, prompting Spain’s weather service to lower the alert level to orange.
The national meteorological agency AEMET had maintained a red alert for Valencia’s coastal areas throughout Monday due to the risk of severe rainfall. ALSO READ: Spain’s weather agency maintains alerts in Valencia, Castellón, Tarragona.
Among the hardest hit locations was the city of Gandía, which recorded more than 240 litres of rain per square metre in just one afternoon and evening, inundating garages and roadways.
Several towns that had been devastated by the DANA floods in 2024 once again saw water covering their streets, though the scale of destruction was far less severe this time.
Videos circulating online showed torrents of water surging through Cullera, a town located south of Valencia.
‘We have experienced an episode of historic rains,’ Cullera’s mayor Jordi Mayor wrote on social media, urging residents to remain indoors.
The remnants of former Hurricane Gabrielle were now shifting eastward, with heavy rain forecast for the Balearics and Alicante on Tuesday. Ibiza already suffered some flooding on Monday night.
An official event at the University of Valencia, which King Felipe VI had been scheduled to attend on Tuesday, was cancelled because of the weather, according to the royal household.
Monday’s La Liga fixture between Valencia and Real Oviedo was also postponed, the Spanish Football Federation announced. The match is now expected to take place on Tuesday if conditions allow.
Education authorities confirmed that more than 500,000 students missed classes on Monday, as 243 local councils across the region decided to close schools.
In Valencia city, municipal authorities shut all public spaces, including libraries, parks, cemeteries and markets. Many residents moved their cars onto bridges to prevent them being swept away from low-lying, flood-prone streets.
Earlier, overnight rainfall caused localised flooding and led to an overflowing ravine in Aldaia, one of the municipalities most affected by the October 2024 disaster that claimed over 230 lives. No injuries were reported in this latest episode.
Last year’s tragedy provoked widespread anger at the shortcomings in warning systems and emergency planning. Demonstrations continue, with residents accusing officials of issuing alerts too late. ALSO READ: Tens of thousands rally against leader of flood-hit Valencia – the 5th major protest.
Experts stress that climate change, by warming the atmosphere and allowing it to hold more moisture, is intensifying the likelihood and severity of extreme rainfall and flooding events. Click here for all our reports related to the Valencia Floods.
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🟠 Avisos naranjas en la Comunitat Valenciana, Región de Murcia y Baleares para el martes 30.
⛈️ Peligro importante por lluvias muy fuertes y persistentes, sobre todo en la primera mitad del día. Por la tarde, en principio, irán a menos. pic.twitter.com/Mq6oK13fCB
— AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) September 29, 2025
Supervisamos las instalaciones de la ciudad tras una noche de intensa lluvia en la que @bomberosvlc y @policialocalvlc han atendido más de 70 incidencias.
Todavía estamos en alerta naranja, por lo que seguimos rogando extremar la precaución y prudencia hasta el final del… pic.twitter.com/ZRPIVVgUuI
— María José Catalá (@mjosecatala) September 30, 2025
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