Finalist: After the flood
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.
María Alcaráz
At the Alcaráz family home in Paiporta, the house had been emptied, and there were still clear marks on the walls showing how high the water rose. In some places, the marks were high above the heads of the children, María and Miguel. María helped cleaning the house, but she did not want to live there anymore. She was afraid of the water returning.
