Flash floods cause widespread destruction in Spain

International

SEVERE flash floods in Spain have resulted in at least 95 fatalities, with emergency services urgently searching for dozens of missing individuals.

The hardest-hit region is Valencia, where 92 deaths have been reported, according to Angel Victor Torres, Spain's minister of territorial policy.

Additionally, two fatalities were recorded in Castile-La-Mancha, and one in Andalusia.

On Tuesday, parts of southern and eastern Spain experienced up to 12 inches of rain within hours, marking the most significant rainfall in Valencia in nearly three decades, as reported by the state weather agency AEMET.

The deluge led to widespread chaos, rendering highways unusable and leaving numerous vehicles abandoned in rapidly rising waters.

Emiliano García-Page, president of Castile-La-Mancha, likened the rainfall to a levee breaking, describing the scenes of distress as emergency calls flooded in.

“It was like a dam burst,” he stated per a CNN report. “People were calling for help, but it was almost impossible to reach them.”

In Valencia, a courthouse has been converted into a temporary morgue, with the death toll expected to rise.

Reports indicate that at least 40 victims, including six residents from a retirement home, were discovered in the town of Paiporta.

Videos shared by rescue agencies depict streets submerged, individuals stranded on rooftops, and overturned vehicles.

Approximately 1,200 people remain trapped on various highways, with around 5,000 vehicles blocked due to the floodwaters.

Public transportation, including trains, has been suspended in affected regions, and schools, museums, and libraries in Valencia will close on Thursday.

In Malaga, a 71-year-old British man succumbed to hypothermia amid the chaos.

Survivors recounted harrowing experiences, with some forced to take refuge on rooftops as water levels surged.

Families of the missing are desperate for news, with many recounting agonizing waits for rescue.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has pledged full government support for flood victims and plans to visit Valencia on Thursday.

The Defense Ministry has deployed over 1,000 military personnel to assist in rescue operations.

In response to the tragedy, the government has declared three days of official mourning for the victims of the floods.(CMM)