Mud

• Prize
  Silver in Editorial/Environmental
• Photographer
  Alejandro Martinez Velez
• Agency / Studio
  Europa Press/the Sunday Times
• Technical Info
  Canon Eos R6, Canon Rf 24mm 1.8, Sigma 35mm 1.4 Art, Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art, Canon Ef 70-200 F4 L
• Photo Date
  2024

On October 29, 2024, torrential rains devastated eastern Spain, causing severe human and material damage. The province of Valencia was the most affected by the DANA (cold drop), with rainfall reaching 771 liters per square meter in 24 hours in the municipality of Turís. This caused the Magro River and the Poyo ravine to overflow. The torrent of water swept through Valencian towns such as La Alcudia, Picaña, Paiporta, Sedaví, Alfafar, Catarroja, among others. According to official figures from the Government of Spain, as of Nov. 20, 2024, there are 227 fatalities and 8 missing persons.

Alejandro Martinez Velez, 1991, is a photojournalist currently based in Madrid, Spain. He began his photography training at Lens School of Visual Arts, combining it with his university studies in Political Sciences (Complutense Univesity of Madrid). His work focuses especially on social conflicts, human rights or political issues. He is currently documenting the exodus of hundreds of thousands of people to Europe. His pictures have been exhibited in different cities like Madrid, Moscow, Istanbul, New York, Shanghai, Warsaw or Milan