Historic flooding in Spain has resulted in numerous deaths and severe damage. Explore shocking footage and updates on ongoing rescue operations and relief efforts.
Heavy rains struck eastern Spain on Wednesday night, leading to widespread flooding from Malaga in the south up to Valencia in the east.
According to local meteorologists referenced by Reuters, some areas of the Valencia region experienced a year’s worth of rainfall in just eight hours. These rainstorms led to the most deadly flooding in the country in thirty years.
According to El Pais, which cited government sources, the disaster has resulted in at least 70 fatalities and some individuals are still unaccounted for. The newspaper reported that the Spanish military has been deployed to aid in locating missing persons and recovering bodies of victims.
This flood has the highest death toll in the EU since 2021, when at least 185 individuals lost their lives in Germany. In Spain, it marks the deadliest flooding since 1996, when similar conditions resulted in 87 fatalities.
According to Spanish media, many people spent the night on top of trucks or roofs of gas stations and houses. The heavy rains led to blackouts that affected around 140,000 individuals, reported the outlet.
READ ALSO: At Least 62 Killed in Severe Flooding in Spain’s Valencia Region
The floods severed roads in eastern Spain, prompting the suspension of train services in certain regions. High-speed rail routes between Madrid and the Valencian Community were halted, as well as those along the Mediterranean Corridor to Barcelona.
According to the AP, a high-speed train with approximately 300 passengers derailed near Malaga, but fortunately, there were no casualties.
Numerous videos capturing the aftermath of the disaster emerged on social media, featuring torrents of water and mud surging through streets and carrying away vehicles. One photograph displayed a massive barricade on a street composed of cars wrecked by the floodwaters.
“We were trapped like rats as cars and trash containers floated down the streets. The water rose to three meters,” stated Ricardo Gabaldon, the mayor of Utiel, in an interview with AP.
The videos and photos depicted extensive regions engulfed by water and mud. Witnesses interviewed by Reuters reported that floodwaters reached depths of up to two meters in certain locations. Media outlets noted that some areas are still inaccessible because of damage to transportation infrastructure.
According to El Pais, the storm is heading north towards Catalonia and Aragon, and moving south to Andalusia. The city of Cadiz in Andalusia has been placed on red alert due to potential flooding risks.
