After the DANA of October 2024, farmers in l'Horta Nord remain concerned about the possibility of a new extreme rainfall event causing catastrophic damage. A delegation from AVA-ASAJA has toured the Carraixet riverbed from Bétera to its mouth in Alboraia, confirming the large accumulation of invasive reeds, trees, undergrowth, and other items.
“"The Carraixet is as dirty and clogged as the Poyo ravine was, so if this time the DANA were to occur upstream of Valencia, the same catastrophe could be repeated."
The concern focuses especially on the section starting from Bétera, where several ravines from the southern slope of the Sierra Calderona converge, and continues downstream through municipalities such as Moncada, Alfara del Patriarca, Foios, Vinalesa, Benifaraig, Carpesa, Bonrepòs i Mirambell, Tavernes Blanques, Almàssera, and Alboraia. The organization warns that a possible overflow could be exacerbated by the presence of urban centers and orchards in flat areas.
“"Nothing ever happens, but the day it does, there will be regrets. The least we can do is learn from past mistakes and be better prepared for the future."
Furthermore, AVA-ASAJA has expressed its concern about the low height of the new bypass bridge that crosses the Carraixet ravine. According to the organization, the construction does not leave enough clearance for reeds dragged by a future flood, which could become a barrier.
The association urges the central Government and the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge to learn the lesson from the DANA and rectify their water policies. They believe that excessive vegetation blocks water flow and can cause severe flooding and damage to infrastructure. They also advocate for the modernization of hydraulic infrastructures to better manage water during emergency episodes.
