Just over a week after the DANA—a destructive weather system where cold and warm air collide to produce powerful rain clouds and catastrophic flash floods—upended lives in the Community of Valencia, cleanup efforts and the search for missing persons continue.

In addition to the devastation in urban areas, Valencia's countryside is experiencing its worst weather event in 200 years, with thousands of hectares of crops and plantations suffering catastrophic losses, many of them in peak season.

In Castellón, Spanish media report that citrus crops have been particularly hard hit, with rains arriving at a critical harvest moment. This is expected to impact mandarins, clementines, and especially Navelina oranges. The citrus season in the region runs from September to June, and while early varieties had already been harvested, a substantial amount of fruit remained on the trees.

One major concern for the agricultural sector is the health of the trees. Due to excessive water and mud exposure, those that survive may still be at risk for disease.

A drop in fruit supply is anticipated for both local and international markets, given that Valencia is a key orange-producing region. In 2023, Valencia’s orange production reached 964.6 million tons. Industry members hope to fulfill customer needs with fruit stored in refrigerated chambers.

Persimmon, or kaki, was another crop severely affected. The Spanish Persimmon Association issued a statement calling the DANA's impact “devastating,” especially in Valencia’s main production areas. Initial estimates suggest crop losses of over 70% on many farms, as heavy rains, wind, and hail led to significant fruit drop and plantation damage.

Agroseguro is gathering data on damages in Albacete, Murcia, and Andalusia, particularly in Almeria. Some damage was also reported on Oct. 30 in the western part of Andalusia and northeastern areas, including Aragon and Catalonia.

Related article: DANA causes "catastrophic" losses in thousands of hectares of crops and plantations in Valencia, Spain

“Although it is still too early to determine the exact economic impact of this DANA on agriculture or livestock, initial impressions indicate it is an exceptionally severe weather event, surpassing recent years’ records,” stated Agroseguro.

“The DANA has seriously affected crops currently in harvest, including persimmons, citrus, and some vegetables in the Valencian Community; citrus and vegetables in Murcia; vegetables in Albacete; and citrus and vegetables in Almeria, including those grown under plastic. There may also be damage to woody crops and livestock farms.”

Agroseguro’s preliminary estimates suggest 20,000 hectares have been affected in Valencia, spanning 42,000 plots. The primary crops damaged include citrus, persimmons, wine grapes, and vegetables, with some impact on woody crops like almond and olive trees.

Many farms remain flooded and inaccessible, so the final assessment of human losses, infrastructure damage, and affected hectares is still underway.

*Main photo by AEKAKI, via Valencia Fruits.