Valenciaport resumes operations in aftermath of heavy rainfall in Eastern Spain

Update: Valenciaport has announced measures to avoid logistics collapses after Spain was struck by the worst floods in recent memory that left cars piled up like toys in streets, swallowed homes, and covered entire neighbourhoods in sludge and debris.

An unknown number of people remain missing after the country suffered its deadliest natural disaster in living memory.

The Port Authority of Valencia reported on Sunday that it has established different measures to deliver and collect containers at the Port of Valencia from today in order not to collapse the logistics chains.

On the one hand, essential goods continue to have priority, the port said, and their transport has no restrictions. In turn, an alternative route has been established for non-essential goods.

Consequently, the container terminals of the Port of Valencia will open today, Monday, November 4, at their usual hours, carrying out container delivery and reception operations.

Valenciaport confirmed on Thursday October 31 that the CSP, MSCT and APM terminals have resumed activity for the reception and delivery of goods.

“The Port of Sagunto returned to normality on October 30 from 14:00h and is fully operational for maritime traffic,” it noted in its statement last week.

“The Port of Valencia has also been open for the entry/exit of vessels since October 30 at 11:40 am,” it added.

Spain’s eastern and southern regions often see autumn rain, but this year’s downpour was unprecedented.

The severe flooding, triggered by extraordinary rainfall, caused widespread damage, displacing families, damaging infrastructure, and straining emergency response resources.

Spanish authorities are actively working to provide relief, locate missing people, and support affected communities in their efforts to rebuild.

“The severe flooding in Valencia (ES) has caused significant disruptions across our operations. All depots in the area are temporarily closed due to electricity outages and accessibility challenges. Our teams are on-site and working hard to restore full operations as soon as conditions permit,” Hapag-Lloyd said on Friday, November 1, in a customer advisory.

The container shipping line Hapag-Lloyd highlighted that terminals have resumed gate and yard activities with reduced staffing, as road closures and access restrictions continue to affect the region.

“Approximately 50% of office staff are working remotely, though terminal and warehouse functions remain impacted by the current disruptions,” it said in a notice on Friday.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has ordered 5,000 more military personnel and 5,000 additional police officers and civil guards to be deployed to deal with the aftermath of the devastating and destructive floods that swept the country.

He also urged residents in affected areas to follow the recommendations of the emergency services.

Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his support with a post on social media X (former twitter). “Our hearts go out to the people of Spain as they endure the devastation caused by these catastrophic floods,” he wrote among others.