Valencia Hailstorm Destroys 40 Million Euros' Worth of Crops, Farmers Say

A severe hailstorm ravaged hundreds of farms and vineyards throughout Spain’s Valencia region on Sunday, September 17, resulting in an estimated 42.7 million dollars’ worth of damage, as reported by the Association of Farmers of Valencia (AVA).

According to the association, the storm caused 40 million euro (USD$42.7 million) losses in total after damaging more than 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) of grapes, citrus, persimmons, avocados, almonds, olives, rice, and vegetables, affecting up to 100 percent of some farmers’ harvests.

Footage here, posted by Amelia Navarro to Instagram, showed the hailstorm as it hit her neighbor’s roof and her own terrace. Navarro, worried by the size of the hail, exclaimed, “The windows will break!”

Other areas of Valencia suffered flash flooding during the storm. Credit: Amelia Navarro via Storyful