At Least 62 Killed in Severe Flooding in Spain’s Valencia Region

Torrential rains have led to catastrophic flooding in Valencia, Spain, resulting in at least 62 fatalities as authorities work to mitigate the disaster’s impact.

At least 62 people have lost their lives in flash floods that swept through Spain’s eastern region of Valencia following torrential rains, according to local authorities.

Severe storms on Tuesday led to flooding in various regions of southern and eastern Spain. Videos posted on social media depicted vehicles being carried away along streets by the mud-colored floodwaters.

Over 1,000 soldiers from Spain’s emergency response units were dispatched to the impacted regions, and the central government established a crisis committee to coordinate rescue operations.

Emergency services in Valencia advised residents to refrain from road travel and await additional updates from official sources.

At least 62 individuals lost their lives in the floods, according to a statement released by Valencia’s regional government on Wednesday.

Carlos Mazon, the regional leader of Valencia, stated in a news conference that certain individuals are still isolated in areas that cannot be reached.

Ricardo Gabaldon, the mayor of Utiel in Valencia, expressed to national broadcaster RTVE that “yesterday was the worst day of my life.” There are still several people unaccounted for in his town.

“We were stuck like rats, with cars and trash containers being swept down the streets. The water level rose to three meters,” he said.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez assured that the government “would remain committed” to those impacted by the floods.

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“All of Spain mourns with you. Our top priority is to assist you… We will not leave you,” he stated in a televised address.

King Felipe VI expressed his devastation over the loss of life and extended gratitude to emergency services for their efforts. The monarchy also conveyed heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated that the European Union is “prepared to assist” in rescue operations.

“The situation we’re witnessing is devastating,” von der Leyen stated at a news conference. “We have activated our Copernicus satellite system to assist in coordinating the rescue teams, and we have also offered to initiate our civil protection mechanism.”

The state weather agency AEMET issued a red alert on Tuesday for Valencia, a major citrus-growing region. In certain areas like Turis and Utiel, rainfall reached 200mm (7.9 inches).

It mentioned that the rain had stopped, but Castellon in the northern part of the region would stay on orange alert until 2 PM (13:00 GMT).

Trains to Madrid and Barcelona were canceled because of the flooding, while schools and other essential services were suspended in the areas most affected.

Spain’s state-owned railway, Renfe, reported that a high-speed train carrying 291 passengers traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed soon after departure as a result of a landslide. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.

Speaker of the Lower House, Francina Armengol, announced that Wednesday’s parliamentary session would be canceled due to the disaster.

Scientists have cautioned that heavy rainfall events are becoming more frequent and intense globally, primarily due to climate change. Additionally, human activities such as urban development, deforestation, and inadequate infrastructure contribute significantly to increased flood risks.