On October 29, the emergency hotline 112 in Valencia received nearly 20,000 calls as torrential rains caused catastrophic flooding, leaving 224 dead and three missing.

Most calls came before an official alert was sent at 8:11 PM, hours after the crisis began.

The delay in warning residents is under investigation, as many victims were elderly and unable to escape in time.

The hardest-hit areas, including Paiporta and Catarroja, reported desperate calls about rising waters and trapped individuals.

The flooding overwhelmed emergency services, with over 4,700 incidents managed that day.

Critics question why authorities delayed the alert despite receiving early warnings from residents.

The tragedy highlights the urgent need for faster disaster response systems.