WHEN I jetted off to Xàbia for a week in the Spanish sun with my family, little did I know a natural disaster claiming the lives of hundreds would take place so close to home.

The news of the flooding in Valencia has shocked the world, with heart-breaking images and videos being shared depicting the horrific reality of what has happened.

Valencia, SpainValencia, Spain (Image: Jorge Tárrega)

Last week, I was lucky enough to stay in Xàbia, one of Alicante's coastal towns in the Costa Blanca, just an hour-and-a-half drive from the popular city of Valencia.

On October 29, what started as heavy rain soon turned into one of the worst flooding disasters Spain has seen in decades. As a result, communities were cut-off, leaving thousands without food, electricity or water.

Valencia, SpainValencia, Spain (Image: Jorge Tárrega)

In the days that have followed, rescue operations have been in full-swing with people across the country volunteering their time to support those immediately affected.

An official number of 215 deaths has been recorded so far, with over 1,500 people still missing. The floods also struck several surrounding towns of Valencia, including Sedavi, Paiporta, Chiva, Massanassa, Utiel and Aldaia.

Every year during the Autumn, Valencia experiences a weather phenomenon known as a 'gota fria', the cold drop. However, residents and witnesses of the floods this week have described it as the "biggest tragedy" in the last 100-years. 

After witnessing the aftermath myself on my travels back to the UK, I spoke to a Valencian family about the reality of the disaster.

Valencia, SpainValencia, Spain (Image: Megan Donoher) Husband, father and teacher Jorge Tárrega said: "Thousands of Valencian citizens are walking to the damaged towns to help with their hands, some with brooms and buckets to remove mud and the water from streets and houses."

People from the city are also donating food and bottled water to those in need, walking to damaged towns despite authorities restricting many areas. 

While the material losses are immeasurable, it is the human lives that are the biggest loss.

Jorge, 48, added: "People are in shock. The scene left is like a terrifying nightmare. People are trying to clean up the streets and their houses while struggling with the loss of loved ones.

(Image: Jorge Tárrega)

"There are also people still waiting for their friends and relatives to be found alive somewhere in a parking garage or under the mud."

The disaster is receiving 24-hour news coverage across the country, as well as internationally. 

However, residents like Jorge and his wife, Jitka, believe the warning on Tuesday evening (October 29) was "insufficient and late."

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Jitka, 50, also a teacher, added: "When we got the warning, people were already trapped in cars and houses. School and work was the same so people were trapped getting home from their jobs and picking their kids up.

"There was a sensation of no danger, as it wasn't really raining in the now affected areas. It all happened very quickly and within minutes the water in the streets raised to 2m."

Their 19-year-old son, David, said: "Despite the unexpected and terrifying damages that the DANA (a Spanish weather system) has caused, it is inspiring and hopeful to see that so many Valencians, especially from the younger generations, are lending a hand in the towns of Alfafar, Aldaia, Paiporta and others, collaborating to make the apocalyptic scene more of a home for Valencians once more."

On behalf of everyone at the Leader, our thoughts and sympathies are with all those who have been affected during this difficult time.