A mother and her three-month-old daughter tragically lost their lives in Paiporta, a suburb of Valencia, due to severe flooding that has affected Spain since October 29, 2024. Lourdes María García, 34, and her infant Angeline were last seen clinging to the roof of their car as floodwaters rapidly rose around them. In a heart-wrenching final call, Lourdes asked her friend Clara Andrés to care for her other two children, Sofía, 10, and Bajix, 13, who were left alone at home in Torrent, approximately six kilometers away. Despite efforts to save them, the bodies of Lourdes and Angeline were later recovered, bringing the death toll from the floods to at least 158, with many others still missing.
The floods, caused by the DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos), have wreaked havoc across the Valencia region, leading to a national emergency. Antonio Tarazona, Lourdes's partner, managed to escape the car but was swept away by the current before finding safety. The family's ordeal highlights the catastrophic impact of extreme weather events, which have prompted the Spanish government to declare three days of national mourning, with flags at half-mast across the country. Rescue operations are ongoing, with many families still awaiting news of their loved ones.
