Severe flash floods have claimed at least 95 lives across Spain, with rescuers racing to locate those still missing in the disaster's aftermath.
Spain's Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Angel Victor Torres, revealed that the Valencia region suffered the most with 92 fatalities, while two deaths occurred in Castile-La Mancha and one in Andalusia.
In Valencia's town of Paiporta alone, 40 people perished, including six residents of a retirement home.
Torrential rains brought up to 12 inches of precipitation within hours on Tuesday, marking the heaviest rainfall Valencia has experienced in 28 years, according to Spain’s weather agency.
The floodwaters turned the region into a crisis zone as main highways became impassable, and abandoned vehicles were swept away. Rescue operations have since mobilised to evacuate residents from inundated areas.
Emergency services in Valencia, Malaga, and Castile-La Mancha are continuing their search for those still missing. Castile-La Mancha’s regional president, Emiliano Garcia-Page, attributed the severity of flooding to a burst dam, stating, "It’s not just heavy rain; it was like a dam burst."
Train services between Madrid and Valencia have been suspended, and authorities have shut down schools and museums to ensure public safety. Reports indicate that roughly 1,200 people are stranded on highways in Valencia, with around 5,000 vehicles trapped in the rising waters.
This catastrophic event, triggered by a weather pattern known as the "cold drop," has led to what is being called the worst flooding Valencia has witnessed this century.
Though climate change implications remain unconfirmed, the Spanish weather agency is monitoring potential links.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pledged full government support for flood victims and urged citizens to remain vigilant.
He is expected to visit Valencia today to oversee the response and assess the extent of the damage.
Follow us
