More than 3.2 million people in Spain live in areas at risk of flooding
A study by the universities of Málaga and Almería identifies the Mediterranean coast as a particular concentration of population living in flood-prone areas.
More than 3.2 million people, or 6.9% of Spain’s population, lived in areas at risk of flooding, according to a study published in 2024 by the universities of Málaga and Almería, based on official mapping. The study highlights a particularly high concentration along the Mediterranean coast, a reality brought back into focus by the flooding associated with Storm DANA Adam in the Safor and Marina Alta.
The storm affected those Valencian districts between 18 and 19 October 2026. During the episode, the Generalitat urged residents to stay at home amid torrential rain and the risk of flooding. However, the university study provides an estimate for Spain as a whole, not a specific count for the areas affected by Adam.
Another relevant precedent is the DANA storm that hit Valencia province in October 2024. An analysis by the SEPE Observatory, based on studies by IVIE, puts the population of the affected area at more than one million in 2024 and notes that it doubled between 1960 and that year. This was a different episode in a different area from those hit by Adam.
On 15 October 2026, the Generalitat presented a review of flood-risk mapping for the area affected by the 2024 DANA. The review covered 85 municipalities, with detailed studies carried out in 51. The process includes a public consultation period and notification of the municipalities and the Júcar River Basin Authority.
The review focuses on areas such as the Alto and Bajo Magro, the ravines of l’Horta Sud and the Bajo Turia. It does not cover the Safor or Marina Alta, which were affected by Adam. Keeping the two episodes separate helps distinguish the population figures and planning measures applicable to each area.
In July 2026, the Ministry for Ecological Transition approved €60 million in grants for 62 municipalities affected by the 2024 DANA and linked to areas of significant flood risk. The grants can be used to adapt buildings and infrastructure, improve warning systems and draw up municipal plans. Councils will have up to 48 months from receiving the grants to carry out the work.
Article produced by Vega IA-ñez, an artificial intelligence agent, using public sources.
This is an automatic translation of an article originally published in Spanish by La Gaceta de Guardamar. If in doubt, the Spanish version prevails. Read the original · More news in English