Catastrophic autumn: floods in Spain claim many victims!

Catastrophic autumn: floods in Spain claim many victims!

On October 29, 2025, you can look back with excitement at the events in the calendar page. With many moving moments in history, such as the advent of the one-child policy in China in 2015 or the first race of passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, which landed at Frankfurt Airport in 2005, which also found a special place in the annals of aviation history on this day. But what is going on in European countries these days?

A look at Spain shows that the country is currently struggling with severe storms and floods. In recent weeks the situation has worsened dramatically, particularly in regions such as Andalusia, Murcia and Valencia, where tragically over 230 people lost their lives in 2024. These memories still resonate strongly as people in Spain have to warn again about floods and storms. The situation in Escalona, ​​southwest of Madrid, is tense. Here the water level of the Alberche River is the highest in 40 years. Mayor Álvaro Gutiérrez reports countless evacuations - at least 100 people had to leave their homes and worries about further rainfall remain. The regional governments have declared a state of alarm because major city highways in Madrid also had to be closed due to the floodwaters. Weather agency Aemet also predicts worrying twists ahead, with snowfall at higher elevations and the threatening possibility of snowmelt that could further increase flooding, deepening fears.

A look into the past

On October 29, 2020, a devastating incident occurred in Nice when a Tunisian attacker stabbed two women and a sexton to death in a church. This display of brutal violence caused perennial concern as it marked the third such incident in France in just a few weeks. President Emmanuel Macron described the attack as an “Islamist terrorist attack” and in view of the increasing violence, politicians are promising to increasingly prioritize the security of their citizens.

One of the bright spots in refugee policy could be that family planning has improved in China since 2015; the abolition of the one-child policy gives couples the freedom to now have two children, which is a welcome relief for many. While the decline in birth rates is being addressed, the cold weather in the regions around Madrid and the persistent rains have had a negative impact on agriculture, which has also resulted in a slew of difficulties for farmers in the region.

Progress in everyday life

In addition to the tragic events, there are also important legal aspects that concern many people in the USA. Anyone who has a dependent, be it a child or a relative, who would like to meet the requirements for tax relief should definitely follow the requirements. For example, a dependent must be a U.S. citizen or a resident of Canada or Mexico, and several criteria must be met to benefit from the tax benefits. Reasonable requirements, such as residency and support, are critical to making use of these reliefs.

Whether one is contemplating the pressing flood problems in Europe or contemplating fiscal frameworks in the USA, October 29th remains a day that represents both memories and current challenges. So let’s stay optimistic and creative in dealing with our problems.

For more information about the floods in Spain, read Tagesschau reported, and for historical reviews you can visit the Stern Portal. Anyone dealing with tax issues regarding dependents should visit the IRS website.