The DANA or cold drop that has caused the torrential rains that have flooded numerous places in eastern Spain and caused at least 100 deaths, the majority in Valenciahas left a good number of apocalyptic images. While efforts are still being made to locate dozens of missing people and assessing the damage caused, the meteorological phenomenon continues its course and now threatens Castellón, province for which the AEMET has issued a warning of extreme danger during the next few hours.
⚠️ RED NOTICE | Very intense rains in the north of the province of Castellón: more than 180 l/m² can accumulate.
Extreme danger! Do not travel in the area unless strictly necessary!
The orange warning continues in nearby areas of Catalonia and the Valencian Community. pic.twitter.com/B9aYnKTH3Y
— AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) October 31, 2024
The videos and images that have been circulating in the last 48 hours give a partial image of the disaster. A broader view can be obtained through satellite images published by NASA and that allow us to compare the before and after the passage of the DANA through Valencia. These have been compiled by the geologist Nahúm Méndez on his X account, formerly known as Twitter.
We are beginning to receive the first satellite images that allow us to see the before and after of DANA in the area around the city of Valencia.
Look at the difference between today and a couple of weeks ago. The images are taken by NASA’s Landsat satellite. pic.twitter.com/RZA7sqcUsj
— A geologist in trouble 🏳️🌈 (@geologoenapuros) October 30, 2024
The images have been taken by a satellite Landsat from NASA. The name Landsat includes a series of satellites, built and put into orbit by the space agency over five decades, to high resolution observation of the earth’s surface. They orbit some 700 kilometers highwhich gives them a privileged position to capture in images How the Valencian coast has changed after the floods of this Tuesday and Wednesday.
This is the path I follow when I go to the University: Picassent, Silla, Albal, Massanasa, Catarroja, Alfafar, Llocnou, Sedaví… and that many of us who go from the south to the city follow assiduously. pic.twitter.com/gj8YHLo5Fp
— A geologist in trouble 🏳️🌈 (@geologoenapuros) October 30, 2024
According to Méndez, the images that show the before and after are taken two weeks apart. They show how the sea closest to the coast has changed its color as a result of the earth, mud and debris washed ashore.
But the most shocking thing is to see how it has affected the interior. The area south of the city of Valencia, demarcated by the channel of the Turia river that was diverted after the floods that in 1957 cost the lives of about 300 peoplehas allowed the city to resist DANA. To the south of the Turia, you can see large flooded areas whose color has changed to brown due to the effects of the floods.