The tragic story of Rubén and Izan Matías Calatayud has captured the nation’s heart after the devastating floods in Valencia, Spain, which began on October 29. The boys, aged 3 and 5, were caught in the flood while waiting for dinner in their home in Torrent. As floodwaters swept through their neighborhood, a trailer crashed into their house, causing the walls to collapse. Despite their father’s desperate efforts to protect them, the force of the water tore the boys from his grasp. While the father survived, severely injured, the boys were missing for two weeks. Volunteers searched tirelessly, and eventually, their bodies were found six miles downstream, at separate locations. The family’s heartbreak has resonated deeply with Spain as they mourn the loss of the young brothers.
