Flooding in Spain Claims 158 Lives with Numbers Expected to Increase
Spain’s national weather service AEMET mentioned that in the town of Chiva in Valencia region, more rain fell in eight hours than had in the preceding 20 months.
The death toll following a deluge in southern Spain has reached 158 and is expected to increase further as rescue teams search for more bodies in damaged homes and stranded cars.
Flash floods on Oct. 29 have resulted in the loss of 155 lives in the Valencia region, two in neighboring Castilla-La Mancha, and one in Andalusia.
Spain’s national weather service AEMET described the torrential rain as “extraordinary” and stated that in the town of Chiva in the Valencia region, more rain fell in eight hours than had in the previous 20 months.
On Wednesday evening, Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente mentioned that the number of missing individuals was unclear but sadly, there were deceased individuals inside some vehicles.
The death toll has been gradually increasing from 51 to 63, then 95, and now to 158, with a high likelihood of further rise over the weekend.
This tragedy has exceeded the death toll of Spain’s previous worst flood in August 1996 when 87 individuals perished due to a campsite being swept away by the overflowing Gallego river in Biescas, in the Pyrenees foothills.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared three days of national mourning and emphasized the importance of finding the victims and missing individuals to alleviate their families’ suffering.
People Urged to ‘Stay Home’
He also advised the public to stay at home and follow official recommendations to assist in saving lives, as the storm front continues.
Additional heavy rain fell on Oct. 31, prompting AEMET to issue alerts for several counties in Castellón, Valencia region, Tarragona in Catalonia, and Cadiz in Andalucia.
Tuesday’s floods were primarily caused by the overflowing rivers, with the Magro, Turia, and Júcar rivers breaching their banks and inundating numerous towns and villages.
Several individuals driving home from work on Tuesday were caught in a sudden deluge or drowned in their vehicles.
The Valencia regional government faced criticism for not issuing an emergency alert sooner on Oct. 29, with many individuals receiving it only after starting their evening commute.
In various towns and villages, cars are stacked on top of one another, streets are covered in mud, and there are uprooted trees and downed power lines.
In Paiporta, a town near Valencia, the mayor, Maribel Albalat, reported at least 62 fatalities, noting that the town had never experienced flooding before.
‘It Was a Real Trap’
She recounted, “We found many elderly individuals in the town center. Additionally, numerous people attempted to retrieve their vehicles from garages, turning it into a deadly situation.”
Seven body bags were extracted from an underground garage in the nearby Barrio de la Torre on Thursday.
Over 1,000 soldiers have joined forces with police, firefighters, and volunteers in the search for bodies and stranded survivors.
The Valencia regional president Carlos Mazón has requested the Spanish Army’s assistance in distributing food and water to those impacted by the floods.
Many greenhouses and farms across southern Spain were damaged, affecting the region’s vegetable and citrus fruit production, which is crucial for the country.
Furthermore, several of Spain’s prominent football clubs, including Real Madrid, have pledged to raise funds to support Red Cross operations in the flood-affected areas.
La Liga, Spain’s top football league, released a statement expressing solidarity with the victims’ families and the missing individuals.
Real Madrid announced a donation of one million euros ($1.09 million).
Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
