The devastating floods in Valencia, Spain, that began on October 29, have been called the worst the country has seen in decades. Over 220 lives have been lost, and the recovery efforts continue in communities destroyed by the floodwaters.
Among the victims were two young brothers, Rubén and Izan Matías Calatayud, whose tragic story has touched many. It was a regular evening in their home in Torrent, near Valencia, with the boys—aged 3 and 5—waiting for dinner when the flood hit with overwhelming force. Their father was preparing a meal when a parked trailer was swept by the current, slamming into the house and causing it to collapse. As water surged into the house, the father held his sons tightly, trying to protect them, but the flood’s force was too powerful.
Relatives shared how the father moved the boys to the living room, hoping to calm them, but the flood continued to ravage the home. When the walls gave way, the current swept them all away, and the father struggled to hang on. He managed to survive by clinging to a tree branch until rescuers found him, severely injured and needing surgery.
The boys’ mother, who was working in Valencia, rushed home to find her family shattered. For two weeks, volunteers searched for Rubén and Izan, but hope faded with each day. Finally, the bodies of the boys were found six miles away from their home, at separate locations. The news devastated the family.
The father, still recovering in the hospital, has been unable to speak, grappling with an overwhelming guilt. His mother shared that he was close to giving up but found the strength to survive for his wife.
This story highlights the cruel force of nature and the fragility of life. It will be remembered as a painful reminder of the tragedy that struck this community.
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