Sixty years since Xàbia and
Denia were rivers
On October 1st it was sixty years
since Xàbia suffered the worst
floods in its history. The rain
gauges overflowed, so we can
never be sure of the exact amount
of rain, but it is reckoned to have
been close to a metre of rain
over three days, and a national
record. The port area was severely
damaged and at least one person
lost their life. A detailed account
is given in La Marina Plaza. Jávea
holds the Spanish record for the
greatest amount of rain in 24
hours. This led to devastating
floods in 1957. Heavy rainfall,
partricularly in the interior,
resulted in widespread flooding
in 2007. Intervening years have
also experienced significant flood
and storm damage.
The background to the floods and
flood risk of this area is discussed
in Flood Plains - Where the river
always reclaims its property.
For a scholarly article about the
flood risks in this region see:
Spatial planning processes,
territorial planning law and flood
risk in the region of Valencia
(Spain) by J. Olcina Cantos
University of Alacant, Spain
Photographs of the 2007 floods
can be seen in the following Xàbia
Al Dia webalbums:
https://picasaweb.google.
com/105421342750262548591/
Riada2007
https://picasaweb.google.
com/105421342750262548591/
Riada2007ElDiaDespues
https://picasaweb.google.
com/105421342750262548591/
Riada2007FotosLectores