Spain Flash Floods: Death Toll At 158 As Catastrophic Deluge Leaves Cities In Ruins — Visuals
Spain Flash Floods: The death toll is expected to rise as some people are still missing, with more rain forecasted.
In Spain, flash floods have killed at least 158 people this week after torrential rain turned towns and villages in the eastern and southern parts of the country into rivers. Many areas across the country received several months’ worth of rain fell in a single day. Valencia, one of the worst affected regions, witnessed a year's worth of rain in just eight hours on Tuesday.
Rescue teams are still searching for those missing in what could become Europe's worst storm-related disaster in over five decades. "There's a total of 158 people to which must be added dozens and dozens of missing," news agency Reuters reported quoting Angel Victor Torres, minister in charge of cooperation with Spain's region. The death toll is expected to rise as some people are still missing, with more rain forecasted.
As per the report, the tragedy is already Spain's worst flood-related disaster in modern history, and meteorologists say human-driven climate change is making such extreme weather events more frequent and destructive. In 2021, at least 185 people died in heavy flooding in Germany. Before that, 209 people died in Romania in 1970 and floods in Portugal in 1967 killed nearly 500 people.
The deluge began on Monday. Visuals from the country showed residents in affected areas struggling to clear mud- and tree-covered streets as cars and trucks were swept away and dumped in piles, blocking roads.
Powerful torrents of water caused by bad weather in Spain have destroyed everything in their path.
— Uncensored News (@uncensorednews9) November 1, 2024
A subway train in Valencia, Spain, was completely submerged due to bad weather in the area.
Some 62 people have died in Valencia, Spain due to heavy rains and flooding, local… pic.twitter.com/w66uPOd4V0
As per the Reuters report, thousands of people carrying bags or pushing shopping trolleys were seen crossing a pedestrian bridge over the Turia River from La Torre into Valencia city centre on Thursday to stock up on essential supplies such as toilet paper and water.
total apocalypse in the mega city of valencia, spain... pic.twitter.com/zrQz5yJ9Ud
— iii_chromatic (@blue_berets7) November 1, 2024
Opposition politicians accused the central government in Madrid of acting too slowly to warn residents and send in rescue teams, prompting the Interior Ministry to say regional authorities were responsible for civil protection measures.
The floods have battered Valencia's infrastructure, sweeping away bridges, roads and rail tracks, and submerged farmland in a region that produces about two-thirds of Spain's citrus crops like oranges, which the country exports globally.
The death toll from the flooding in Spain has now risen to 158 with dozens still missing 💔
— ONJOLO KENYA🇰🇪 (@onjolo_kenya) November 1, 2024
Nature is unforgiving and unrelenting if you tamper with it.
Valencia pic.twitter.com/Ff9bYdyON9
About 80 km (50 miles) of roads in the eastern region were seriously damaged or impassable, said Transport Minister Oscar Puente. Many were blocked by abandoned cars.
"Unfortunately there are dead bodies in some vehicles," Puente told reporters, adding that it would take two to three weeks to re-establish the high-speed train connection between Valencia and Madrid.
Visiting a rescue coordination centre near Valencia city, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged people to stay at home due to the threat of more stormy weather. "Right now the most important thing is to safeguard as many lives as possible," he told reporters.
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