At least 95 people have tragically lost their lives due to severe flash floods sweeping through Spain, according to officials on Wednesday. Emergency responders are urgently working to locate dozens more who remain missing following the devastating deluge.
The region of Valencia has been hit hardest, with 92 fatalities reported by Angel Victor Torres, Spain’s Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory. The toll also includes two deaths in Castile-La-Mancha and one in Andalusia. In the town of Paiporta, at least 40 individuals, including six residents of a retirement home, have died, as reported by the local mayor Maribel Albalat.
In Malaga, a 71-year-old British man succumbed to hypothermia, as noted by the city’s mayor Francisco de la Torre. This catastrophic event unfolded after up to 12 inches of rain fell in just a few hours on Tuesday, marking the worst rainfall in Valencia in nearly three decades, according to the AEMET (state weather agency).
The chaos in Valencia has left many highways impassable, with abandoned vehicles swept away by floodwaters. Rescue agencies have shared harrowing videos showing streets submerged, individuals stranded on rooftops, and cars overturned. Emergency services across Valencia, Malaga, and Castile-La-Mancha are still engaged in searching for the missing.
President of Castile-La-Mancha Emiliano García-Page likened the extreme rainfall to a dam bursting. He reported that residents frantically called for help as waters rapidly inundated their homes, making rescue efforts nearly impossible.
Train services between Madrid and Valencia have been suspended, along with other major public services. Schools, museums, and public libraries in the Valencia region are set to close on Thursday as safety precautions are enforced.
Reports indicate that around 1,200 people remain trapped on various highways in Valencia, with 5,000 vehicles stranded due to rising floodwaters. Survivors described terrifying experiences, with one resident recounting how they were forced to take refuge on their roof as water flooded their home.
The flooding has devastated towns, with rivers overflowing and debris, including vehicles and garbage cans, swept away by powerful currents. The phenomenon known as a “cold drop” has been attributed to the sudden and intense rainfall, although it is too soon to determine any links to climate change.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that the government will mobilize all available resources to assist flood victims, while urging the public to stay vigilant. He plans to visit Valencia on Thursday to assess the situation firsthand.
In response to the crisis, Defense Minister Margarita Robles described the floods as an “unprecedented phenomenon,” with over 1,000 military personnel deployed for rescue operations. The Spanish government has declared three days of official mourning for the victims, starting Thursday.
As rescue efforts continue, local authorities are urging residents in affected provinces to refrain from road travel. The heavy rains are expected to persist, prompting ongoing rainfall warnings throughout eastern and southern Spain, as reported by AEMET.
Source: Swifteradio.com
