Spain's flood disaster was its worst in recent history. Here's what went wrong

Cristobal Martinez, 87, looks out of his window at the muddy streets in Paiporta, Valencia, Spain November 6, 2024. REUTERS/ Eva Manez

(This story has been refiled to fix a typo in paragraph 1)

PAIPORTA, Spain (Reuters) - The water was already knee-high on the ground floor of the hotel where Aitana Puchal had taken refuge when she received a text alert from the regional government of Valencia at 8 pm on Oct. 29 warning people to shelter in place from severe flash floods.