Following the so-called DANA Adam, remote-sensing data have confirmed a substantial increase in the extent of flooded areas on Spain’s east coast. The Unitat de Canvi Global of the Universitat de València published on 23 October 2026 an analysis of Sentinel‑2 images, showing an additional 67 square kilometres of water coverage associated with the event. Much of this lies in and around the Albufera south of Valencia; further increases were recorded along river courses and in reservoirs.
The analysis is based on a differential before-and-after comparison using a Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) to distinguish newly formed open-water areas and heavily waterlogged soils. The researchers note that some rice-growing areas were already partly flooded before the heaviest rainfall; the figure of 67 square kilometres therefore captures only the additional change associated with the event.
For emergency response situation mapping, the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (Copernicus EMS) was activated at the request of Spain’s Ministry of the Interior through the Centro Nacional de Emergencias . Rapid Mapping products provide emergency services and public authorities with a short-term basis for setting priorities, for example, assessing access to towns and critical infrastructure.
Meteorological measurements and reports from the Comunitat Valenciana show that the heaviest rainfall fell from 17 to 20 October 2026. The areas most affected were south of Valencia and as far as the coastal stretches of the Marina, where local stations recorded very high 24-hour totals. Several municipalities experienced flooding, road closures and temporary evacuations. Alert levels were gradually lifted by 20 October.
The economic impact remains uncertain. Agricultural associations and authorities point out that satellite-based maps provide a rapid, spatially consistent initial assessment, but reliable damage estimates require these to be supplemented with field checks, sediment analysis and inspections carried out over time. It is essential to distinguish between prolonged inundation, temporary water coverage and subsequent damage from erosion and sediment. Only this combination makes it possible to quantify crop losses, infrastructure repairs and conservation concerns—such as those in the sensitive Albufera wetland—with confidence.
The newly published figures for the additional water coverage identified provide a more precise picture of the scale of the event around Valencia and create an evidence-based foundation for reconstruction priorities. The Sentinel‑2 time series also provide a reference point for monitoring the retreat of floodwaters in the coming weeks.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).