VALENCIA, Spain — Spain solemnly marked the one-year anniversary of the catastrophic floods that claimed over 230 lives with a national memorial ceremony led by King Felipe VI on October 29, 2025. The event, held at a public museum in Valencia, brought together grieving families, government officials, and public figures to remember one of Europe’s deadliest natural disasters in recent history. The floods, triggered by torrential rains on October 29, 2024, overwhelmed dry gorges and riverbeds, sweeping away vehicles, destroying homes, and leaving a trail of devastation across eastern Spain. The Valencia region bore the brunt of the tragedy, with 229 of the 237 confirmed deaths occurring there. King Felipe VI, alongside Queen Letizia and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, paid tribute to the victims, while family members shared emotional testimonies. The ceremony also highlighted the growing concerns over climate change, with experts and officials pointing to the disaster as a stark reminder of the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. However, the event was not without controversy. Valencia’s regional president, Carlos Mazón, faced jeers and insults from victims’ families, who criticized his administration’s slow response to the crisis. Mazón, who has been the target of large-scale protests demanding his resignation, has remained in power despite widespread dissatisfaction with his handling of the disaster. The memorial served as a poignant moment of reflection, underscoring the enduring pain of the affected communities and the urgent need for climate action.
Spain holds memorial ceremony for flood victims a year after disaster killed over 230 people
