By Jennifer Leu-Yong
What would you do if you knew that you only have 30 minutes left on the clock to decide a life and death situation?
Thirty minutes, for some, it seems long especially when you’re waiting. For others, it’s rather short especially when you are catching deadlines. Unbeknown to us, 30 minutes is all it would take to forever change the course of our lives.
My name is Jennifer, a Filipina-Swiss. And this is a personal account of how we narrowly survived the flash floods in Valencia, Spain last Oct. 29, 2024.
The most awaited vacation
Valencia is a beautiful city with so much to offer. As a Filipina who loves history, culture and food, it was one of the places I have always wanted to visit because it checked all the boxes for a great vacation. This city has the contrasts of a charming old town and futuristic infrastructures that somehow managed to blend well for tourists to experience both. So, when we had the chance to travel there to celebrate our friends’ birthdays, it was an easy “ Yes”.
The first days were amazing. We went places, tried the food, enjoyed the scenery, and met with the locals. Spanish people have this certain charisma that makes you feel so welcome. They also have this laid-back attitude they describe as “tranquilo” which means “in a calm manner”. They take life easy and enjoy “siesta” (a cultural practice of taking a break in the afternoon, usually after eating lunch, for a nap or some downtime). This made me really feel at home.
The ‘almost november’ rain
Tuesday, Oct. 29, 7 a.m.
It had been raining since dawn. Weather reports later say that it is because of a “Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos” or “DANA.” To my untrained ear, it sounded just like the LPA (Low Pressure Area) we are accustomed to, but travelling around Spain at that time. I recall that it was not that windy yet, just non-stop rains. But there was no warning or any advisory of any possible landslides, nor any school or work cancellations, so people went on with their normal routines. We, likewise, started our day as we normally would—with a nice brunch and a hot cup of coffee while enjoying the view of the mountain ranges of Turis, Valencia. Who would have thought that this under-estimated DANA would cause so much destruction and would claim so many lives?!
4 p.m.
Our friend had to catch a flight, so we went out to drive her to Valencia airport. At this time, the rain had intensified. As I have had my fair share of typhoons and even super typhoons in the Philippines, I am familiar with what could happen if it continued on like that. At some point, all that rain had to go somewhere, somewhere down. I was concerned but I calmed myself because it felt like I was the only one worried about the rain; and also, because their rivers have not swollen enough to cause massive flooding in more than 70 years; and yes, because we are in Europe where I supposed that they have better drainage systems. Arriving at the airport, we bid our friend goodbye and went on to grab a bite at the nearby Bonaire Mall, which will later be all over the news as its underground parking will be submerged in flood waters; its shops destroyed.
7.15 p.m.
After eating, we went down to the carpark to start our drive back to Turis. But before we drove off, my husband had to go to the toilet for a good 15 minutes. Looking back, this restroom stop that delayed our drive, may have actually spared us from being at the worst place on the highway to be stuck at. Remember the videos or pictures of the horror highway where you see a lot of cars and trucks piled up mixed with mud and debris? That’s the famous AP7 Highway connecting the coastal Town of Valencia and its neighboring towns making it easier and faster to travel around Spain.
Fifteen minutes after we left the carpark and took to the highway, we got stuck. The road going to the airport where we drove just two hours before was now completely flooded. What used to be a very busy road has turned into a river and not a calm one at that. Small roads near this highway were also flooded. Then a skinny Spanish man, probably in his 50s went out of his car and started saying “Atras. Atras”. Of course, owing to our colonial past, I understood what he was saying. He is commanding us to “move backwards” or to “reverse.” But how are we supposed to do that if we have over 50 cars behind us plus big trucks and trailers?
The race to our lives
7.50 p.m.
We were lucky. We managed to turn around, but we were still stuck. In the last 10 minutes the water rose dramatically. I saw the middle barrier and immediately thought that it was not going to hold for long. Very soon, flood water started to overflow. Now, there’s even water coming from the other side of the road; and it’s coming in fast. Realizing that we might actually be in real danger, everything just seemed to slow down, whereas actually my mind was working on warp speed trying to pick up every detail around me for a chance of survival. (Think here of the 2009 movie adaptation of Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey, Jr., particularly his combat scenes, where slow motion sequence is used to show Holmes’ internal thought process as he calculates the most effective strikes and their consequences, which is then followed by the real-time execution of his plan.)
I looked at the faces of the people. I see some of them are worried, but I don’t see the fear. Who could blame them? Spain has not experienced a calamity of this magnitude since the late 1950’s but the Philippines had! And I happen to have experienced a lot so I snapped back to reality and went out of the car. I surveyed the area. There were no trees to climb. We were all in the low point. I saw the cars on the other side of the road, now starting to float. I know if we don’t do anything in the next ten minutes we will be in real trouble. If the water gets above the knee with that current and with cars already floating, I know I’ll have little to no chance of survival. Five minutes have passed, and we were… still stuck. I remember sending a message to my mother and my sisters to take care of our daughter if we couldn’t make it out of there. I sent a message to my mother-in-law to kiss and hug our daughter for us. I uttered a prayer and told myself if it’s my end at least I’ll die trying. We were getting ready to abandon the car in a few minutes.
Then, the electricity went out. Panic started. All you see are the cars’ lights and the rising water. The skinny Spanish man came to us again and started shouting. Other people were shouting as well, instructing the trucks to go all the way on the side to make way so small cars can drive through. Somehow, it worked! As soon as we saw a little path, we took it. We started telling the others to turn around and follow and we then spent the next 15 minutes getting out of the highway and signalling to the other cars coming in to turn back. Most of them had no idea what’s going on.
I remember hearing horns and car alarms going off as we were approaching the exit. You know what happened next.
The escape
We spent the next half hour finding a safe place. We tried to go back to the mall, but the way there was flooded. We tried another way, but the flood water was just everywhere. We needed to get to a higher place and avoid getting stuck in the traffic again. I saw some cars heading for the highway; people still trying to go home to their families unfazed by the dangers. By this time, the police have arrived and started blocking the entrance to these highways, the malls, and other places that are already flooded. I saw them struggling to stand in the flood in their uniforms, soaking wet. I admire them for their dedication and commitment to public service in the face of calamity and danger to self. I am sure they are also worried about their families, but duty comes first.
All open roads led to the airport. It was on a higher ground and is the only place left with the lights on. All flights were cancelled including that of my friend’s. The airport was filled with stranded passengers and more people, like us, came seeking for shelter. Thankfully, we were reunited with my friend, and we found some sense of solace being together through this harrowing experience.
The tragic aftermath
From what we have experienced, we knew there will be casualties, but nothing has prepared us to face the devastating aftermath of DANA. Seeing the damage with our own eyes has been so heartbreaking and overwhelming. Every hour, the death toll rises. Majority of the roads were closed and bridges broken, unpassable. We couldn’t go back to our friend’s house, luckily, we found a place to spend the next days. We were safe but sadly, the whole of Valencia was on its knees. Over 220 dead and more missing. One of them was the friend of our friend, Sil. She had moved to Spain from the Netherlands, not so long ago. An active and sporty person, Sil had a farm with her horses, cats, and dogs. I find Sil a very grateful and optimistic person; never complains and takes life easy and quite positively. She was believed to be driving home at the highway when she lost contact. It was the same highway we got stuck at. She probably left an hour earlier than us.
The memories
Since that fateful day, we were faced with different realizations. We have read articles of places where we’ve been that night of the tragedy. We’ve compared the timestamp, and we found out that if not for the combined decisions we made that night and the guidance and protection we got from above, we will no longer be here today. Thirty minutes, that’s the only time we had, not earlier, not later. Out of all the scenarios, there is only one with a good outcome and we were lucky it’s what’s given to us.
The memory of the faces of people I have of that night still haunts me. I hope they all made it out of that highway. Sadly, Sil was found by the sea, 13 days since she has gone missing. Her body travelled 45 kilometers from where her last phone signal was detected. I can’t imagine her last moments.
The hope
What happened in Valencia made me realize that we are no match against nature. It is time to take Climate Change and Global Warming seriously. I also believe it could have been avoided if the government treated it like a national state of emergency and sent warnings early. But playing the blame game is not going to change anything anymore. In every adversity comes learning so I hope once the rebuilding is done, change will come.
Amidst the chaos, I saw solidarity. There were so many volunteers. People were helping each other. I appreciate those who helped us find our way home. Yes, DANA was strong, but Spain is stronger. They fell but they will stand back up again. It is a painful experience which will forever leave a mark especially on those who lost their loved ones, like the people whose lives Sil has touched. However, I believe that it is also important to not only think about their tragic end but also the wonderful memories we have of them and with them while they were still here with us.
In reflection, I remind myself that the next moment is not promised so I must live my life to the fullest and show the ones I love how much they mean to me while I can. I have been through this tragedy, but life goes on and my experience has opened my eyes to a new perspective. Now, as I look at the watch, I understand the real essence of time and how it should be spent well. I do not take time for granted anymore, no matter how long or short, and never thirty minutes.
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(Jennifer Leu-Yong is a Filipino-Swiss story teller residing in Switzerland.)