On October 29, 2024, the Valencian Community experienced one of the worst DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels), commonly known as “cold drop,” in its recent history. The town of Chulilla, located in the SERRANÍA region, was particularly affected by intense rainfall and subsequent flooding. This article analyzes the damage caused by this extreme weather event, focusing on the specific situation in Chulilla and its surroundings.
The Impact of the DANA in Chulilla
The October 29 DANA caused significant damage in Chulilla, such as flooded roads and various other problems. Tourist infrastructure and residential properties suffered damage due to falling rocks from La Muela Mountain.Near the spa, the river overflowed, surpassing the first floor of the spa buildings. Reports also indicate that the mouth of the Sot de Chera river was devastated.
The Role of Rivers and Ravines
The rivers and ravines in the area, such as the Sot de Chera River, the Losa ravine, and the Vallfiguera ravine, played a crucial role in amplifying the effects of the DANA. These usually calm waterways turned into raging torrents, destroying everything in their path.
It is essential to analyze data from rain gauges near Chulilla to understand how extreme rainfall influenced the flow of these rivers and ravines. Precipitation in the area was approximately 300 liters, with a higher peak in Chera reaching 400 liters (415 liters at the Buseo dam). The Sot de Chera river basin, spanning about 250 square kilometers, faced exceptional water pressure.
The Buseo dam played a key role in regulating the flow of the Sot de Chera River. However, the intense rainfall exceeded the dam’s storage capacity, leading to a controlled water release to prevent the risk of rupture. The water level rose two meters above the dam structure, causing significant flooding in the municipality of Sot de Chera, where two fatalities and extensive damage to infrastructure and homes were reported.
Downstream, at Vilamarxant, located below Chulilla, the river reached its peak flow at 2:30 a.m., with 1,900 m³/s, nearly 400 times the normal value of 5 m³/s.
Long-term Consequences and Measures to Adopt
The consequences of the DANA in Chulilla are manifold. Beyond material damages, this event has left a deep mark on the local population. To address similar situations in the future, it is necessary to adopt preventive and adaptive measures, such as:
Improving early warning systems: Implement more efficient systems to alert the population about potential flooding.
Revising emergency plans: Update municipal and regional emergency plans to ensure a coordinated and effective response.
Restoring river ecosystems: Recover degraded river ecosystems to enhance their buffering capacity against extreme events.
Strengthening infrastructure: Invest in improving hydraulic and civil protection infrastructure.
The October 29 DANA highlighted the vulnerability of Chulilla and other nearby towns along the Turia River, such as Bugarra, Gestalgar, and Pedralba, to extreme weather events. A joint effort by public administrations, experts, and citizens is necessary to address the challenges posed by rising sea temperatures, which provide more fuel for these cold drop events, and to ensure the safety of the population.
In this drone video, you can see the devastation caused between Sot de Chera and Chera:
Source: @EmilioPalacios