Spain is grappling with its deadliest flooding disaster in generations, with at least 158 fatalities as rescue teams push against difficult odds to find survivors.
On Thursday, over 1,200 workers supported by drones were deployed to continue rescue efforts as persistent rain threatened additional regions of the country.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, visiting affected communities, emphasized, “Right now, the most important thing is to save as many lives as possible.”
In some of the hardest-hit areas from Tuesday night’s flooding, residents faced the grim task of retrieving bodies from the mud and debris.
The province of Valencia recorded at least 155 deaths, while two fatalities were reported in Castilla-La Mancha to the west and another, a British national, in Andalusia.
In Paiporta, a town in Valencia where a river overflowed its banks, at least 40 deaths have been confirmed.
“We all know someone who has died,” said pharmacist Miguel Guerrilla, standing outside his chemist shop which has been covered in thick mud.
“It’s a nightmare.”
READ ALSO: Germany Orders Shutdown of All Iranian Consulates
On Thursday, BBC reporters observed undertakers and funeral vans retrieving bodies from the streets, while cars swept away by the storm surge lay piled atop one another on nearby roads.
Survivors described the terror of being trapped by Tuesday’s rushing tides that transformed highways and streets into rivers.
Many escaped by climbing trees or bridges. Officials have not specified how many remain missing, but confirmed “many” as the death toll rose by another 60 on Thursday.
Wednesday alone saw over 90 fatalities following intense rains and flash floods, primarily affecting Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha, and as far south as Malaga.
In Chiva, a town near Valencia, the Spanish meteorological agency Aemet reported rainfall equaling a full year’s total within eight hours.
As further rain warnings were issued for southern and eastern Spain on Thursday, King Felipe VI cautioned that the emergency is “still not over,” while PM Pedro Sánchez urged citizens to take shelter as needed.
In flood-hit areas, hundreds have sought refuge in temporary shelters, beginning the long, arduous process of clearing streets and salvaging homes and businesses. In Jerez, rising river levels forced the evacuation of hundreds of families, while numerous roads and Valencia’s rail network remain closed. Streets in the La Torre area saw further mud accumulation after more rain overnight.
Spain marked a three-day national mourning period starting Thursday, with flags at half-mast on government buildings and moments of silence observed across the country.
Public frustration is mounting over the perceived failure to adequately warn communities of the impending flood risk.
There are questions about whether disaster management services reacted too late, as the civil protection agency issued an alert only at 20:15 on Tuesday evening, by which time many parts of Valencia had already been flooded for hours.
Authorities have called the flooding and rain “unprecedented.” While multiple factors contribute to flooding, climate change heightens the likelihood of extreme rainfall.
Researchers attribute the intense rains to a “gota fría”—a seasonal weather pattern where cold air descends on the warmer Mediterranean waters. However, scientists noted that global warming has led to rain-heavy clouds, intensifying downpours.
The Earth has warmed by roughly 1.1°C since the industrial era began, and temperatures will continue to rise unless governments enact substantial emission cuts. “There’s no question climate change amplified these explosive downpours,” said Dr. Friederike Otto from Imperial College London, who leads an international research team studying warming’s role in extreme weather events.
This death toll marks Spain’s deadliest flooding since 1973, when over 150 people were killed in the southeastern provinces of Granada, Murcia, and Almeria.
(BBC)
Follow the Parallel Facts channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E
