"La riuà" - Valencia Flood 1957

Each October, rain comes to the Valencia region, not so much in the city area, but in the surrounding plains and mountainous area that separates the city from inland Spain. The rainfall surges during this change in autumn, onto land that is very dry after a long year without much rain.




The 1957 Valencia flood (Spanish: gran riada de Valencia) was a natural disaster that occurred on 13th and 14th October 1957 in Valencia, Spain. The flood resulted in significant damage to property and caused the deaths of at least 81 people.

 




 

Following the incident, it was decided to re-route the river around the city, leaving twelve miles of the riverbed free for other urban uses. This is now the Turia Garden, the largest green area in Valencia.

Documentary made in 2007 by Valencia University, with radio reports, video footage and eyewitness accounts of the flood. 



This is a tourism video was taken a few years ago, but shows Valencia from the air, over the park and areas rebuilt after the flood.




 Caroline Angus Baker