Flash flooding in Spain leaves dozens dead

Barcelona, Spain — Spanish authorities said Wednesday that astatine slightest 51 group person died aft flash floods swept distant cars, turned colony streets into rivers and disrupted obstruction lines and highways successful nan worst earthy disaster to deed nan European federation successful caller memory.

Emergency services successful nan eastbound region of Valencia confirmed nan decease toll.

Spanish King Felipe VI said he is "devastated" by nan flooding, Agence France-Presse reports.

A man takes pictures successful a flooded slum area successful Picuana, adjacent Valencia, eastbound Spain, connected Oct. 30, 2024. Floods triggered by torrential rains successful Spain's eastbound Valencia region near astatine slightest 51 group dead, rescue services said. JOSE JORDAN / AFP via Getty Images

Rainstorms connected Tuesday caused flooding successful a wide swath of confederate and eastbound Spain. Floods of mud-colored h2o tumbled vehicles down streets astatine frightening speeds. Pieces of wood swirled pinch family articles. Police and rescue services utilized helicopters to assistance group from their homes and cars.

Authorities reported respective missing group precocious Tuesday, but nan pursuing greeting brought nan shocking announcement of dozens recovered dead.

Parts of nan Valencia region person nary energy and telephone lines were down, and immoderate areas were trim disconnected by flooded roads, location main Carlos Mazon told reporters, according to AFP.

Cars piled owed to mudslide pursuing floods are pictured successful Picuana, adjacent Valencia, eastbound Spain, connected Oct. 30, 2024. Floods triggered by torrential rains successful Spain's eastbound Valencia region near 51 group dead, rescue services said. JOSE JORDAN / AFP via Getty Images

Over 1,000 soldiers from Spain's emergency consequence units were deployed to nan devastated areas.

"Yesterday was nan worst time of my life," Ricardo Gabaldón, nan politician of Utiel, a municipality successful Valencia, told nationalist broadcaster RTVE. He said respective group were still missing successful his town.

"We were trapped for illustration rats. Cars and trash containers were flowing down nan streets. The h2o was rising to 3 meters," he said.

Spain has knowledgeable akin autumn storms successful caller years, but thing compared to nan devastation complete nan past 2 days.

A high-speed train pinch astir 300 group connected committee derailed adjacent Malaga, though obstruction authorities said nary 1 was hurt. High-speed train work betwixt Valencia metropolis and Madrid was interrupted, arsenic were respective commuter lines.

Valencian location President Carlos Mazón urged group to enactment astatine location truthful arsenic not to complicate rescue efforts, pinch recreation by roadworthy already difficult owed to fallen trees and wrecked vehicles.

Spain's cardinal authorities group up a situation committee to thief coordinate rescue efforts.

The rainfall had subsided successful Valencia by precocious Wednesday greeting but much storms were forecast done Thursday, according to Spain's nationalist upwind service.

Spain is still recovering from a terrible drought earlier this year. Scientists opportunity accrued episodes of utmost upwind are apt linked to climate change.

In:
• Climate Change
• Spain