Flash floods in Spain kill more than 50 people
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At least 52 people have died in eastern Spain after flash floods swept away cars, turned village streets into rivers and disrupted rail lines and highways in the worst natural disaster to hit the European nation in recent memory.
Emergency services in the eastern region of Valencia confirmed a death toll of 51 people on Wednesday.
The central government office for Castilla La Mancha region added that an 88-year-old woman was found dead in the city of Cuenca.
Rainstorms on Tuesday caused flooding in a wide swath of southern and eastern Spain, stretching from Malaga to Valencia.
Floods of mud-coloured water tumbled vehicles down streets at high speeds, while pieces of wood swirled in the water with household items.
Police and rescue services used helicopters to lift people from their homes and rubber boats to reach drivers trapped on the roofs of cars.
Authorities reported several missing people late Tuesday, but the following morning brought the shocking announcement of dozens found dead.
“Yesterday was the worst day of my life,” Ricardo Gabaldon, the mayor of Utiel, a town in Valencia, told national broadcaster RTVE.
He said several people were still missing in his town.
“We were trapped like rats. Cars and trash containers were flowing down the streets. The water was rising to three metres,” he said.
More than 1000 soldiers from Spain’s emergency response units were deployed to the devastated areas.
Rescue services were also rushing eastwards from other parts of Spain.
Television reports showed videos shot by panicked residents documenting how waters flooded the ground floors of apartments, streams bursting their banks and at least one bridge giving way.
Spain has experienced similar autumn storms in recent years.
Nothing, however, compared to the devastation over the last two days, which recalls floods in Germany and Belgium in 2021 that saw 230 people killed.
The death toll will likely rise with other regions yet to report victims and search efforts continuing in areas with difficult access.
Spain is still recovering from a severe drought and continues to register record high temperatures in recent years. Scientists say increased episodes of extreme weather are likely linked to climate change.
The storms unleashed a freak hailstorm that punched holes in car windows and greenhouses as well as a rarely seen tornado.
Transport was also affected. A high-speed train with nearly 300 people on board derailed near Malaga, although rail authorities said no one was hurt.
High-speed train service between Valencia city and Madrid was interrupted, as were several commuter lines.
Valencian regional President Carlos Mazon urged people to stay at home so as not to complicate rescue efforts, with travel by road already difficult due to fallen trees and wrecked vehicles.
South of Barcelona down the Mediterranean coast, Valencia is a tourist destination known for its beaches, citrus orchards, and as the home of Spain’s paella rice dish.
The rain had subsided in Valencia by late Wednesday morning, but more storms were forecast through Thursday, according to Spain’s national weather service.
AP
