Spanish authorities have confirmed the discovery of the body of a 56-year-old man who was swept away during last year’s catastrophic floods in the eastern Valencia region, the deadliest flooding disaster the country has seen in decades.
According to officials, DNA tests verified that the body, found on Tuesday in the Turia River, belonged to one of three people still missing since the October 29, 2024 floods that claimed over 230 lives. A Valencia court stated that the victim, along with the two others, “had already been declared legally dead,” meaning the official death toll remains unchanged.
Investigators revealed that the powerful floodwaters had carried the man’s body approximately 30 kilometres (19 miles) downstream, from the town of Pedralba to Manises, a municipality located just outside Valencia—Spain’s third-largest city.
A state funeral is set to take place on October 29 in Valencia to mark the one-year anniversary of the disaster, which exposed critical flaws in Spain’s early warning systems and emergency response capabilities.
Since the tragedy, public outrage has persisted. Activists have staged monthly demonstrations calling for the resignation of the regional government’s leader, Carlos Mazón, accusing him of negligence and poor crisis management. Another protest is scheduled for this Saturday.
Regional officials, however, maintain that they lacked sufficient data at the time to issue timely warnings to residents before the floods struck.
What you should know
The Valencia floods of October 2024 were among Spain’s worst natural disasters in decades, leaving more than 230 people dead and thousands displaced.
The discovery of another victim’s body underscores the magnitude of the tragedy and the lingering pain for affected families. The floods have also sparked national debate over climate preparedness, early warning systems, and government accountability.
Despite continued public pressure, regional authorities have defended their actions, insisting they acted based on the information available at the time. The upcoming state funeral will serve as both a memorial and a reminder of the disaster’s lasting impact on Valencia’s communities.
