Missing Brothers Found Alive After Historic Flood

The devastating floods in Valencia, Spain, that began on October 29, have been described as the worst the country has experienced in decades.

Over 220 people have lost their lives, and efforts to rebuild communities destroyed by the floodwaters are still ongoing. Among the victims were two young brothers, Rubén and Izan Matías Calatayud, whose tragic story has touched the hearts of people across Spain.

It was a normal evening in their home in Torrent, a town near Valencia. The boys, aged 3 and 5, were waiting for dinner when disaster struck. Their father was preparing the meal when a massive flood swept through the neighborhood. A trailer, carried away by the rushing water, crashed into the house, causing the walls to collapse. As the water flooded in, the father desperately tried to protect his children, holding one in each arm. But the power of the water was too much.

A father’s fight for his children
Relatives said that the father tried everything to protect Rubén and Izan, moving them to the living room in an attempt to keep them calm. But the floodwaters kept rising, and soon the walls gave way. The father fought with all his strength to keep his boys safe, but the strong current ripped them from his arms. All three were swept away by the water and debris.

Miraculously, the father survived by holding on to a tree branch for hours until rescuers found him. He was seriously injured and required emergency surgery for his leg injuries. Meanwhile, the boys’ mother, who had been working in Valencia that evening, rushed home, only to find her family torn apart.

A heartbreaking discovery
For two weeks, volunteers from across Spain joined the search for the missing boys. With each passing day, hope started to fade, but the family still held on to the hope of a miracle.

Finally, the boys’ bodies were found six miles downstream from their home, at different locations. The police had the difficult task of informing the family of their heartbreaking loss.

“We’re devastated,” the boys’ aunt, Barbara Sastre, said to Spain’s state TVE. “We weren’t expecting them to be found alive, but it’s always painful to hear the news that they’re gone.” Another relative added, “Our little angels are now looking after us from heaven.”

The family’s dog, Betty, was also found dead.

A father’s guilt
The father, still in the hospital, has not been able to speak since the tragedy. His mother, Antonia, told reporters that he feels a crushing guilt for not being able to save his sons. She shared, “He almost gave up and let the current take him too, but the thought of his wife gave him the strength to hold on.”

This tragedy serves as a painful reminder of the power of nature and how fragile life can be. As Spain continues to recover, the story of Rubén and Izan will remain in the hearts of many — a sad testament to a father’s desperate struggle against an unstoppable force.

Let’s keep this grieving family in our thoughts and hold our loved ones close.