On October 29, 2024, an unusual amount of rain led to catastrophic conditions in towns close to the mountains west of Valencia, including the towns of Paiporta and Massanassa. 222 people lost their lives, and the destruction in the affected towns was enormous. A month later, the consequences of the flooding were still very visible – especially among the locals who had lost their belongings, childhood homes or, in some cases, their lives.
62-year-old Marisa Guzmán Mendoza's apartment is located a few floors up and was not destroyed – but her local community had been left in ruins. After the flood, more than 50,000 volunteers, nearly 10,000 officers from Spain's various police units, and 7,000 soldiers traveled to the affected areas to help with the cleanup. To show gratitude, Marisa made paella for a unit of soldiers.










