Flash floods in Spain have left a trail of destruction, killing at least 205 people, mostly in Valencia. Heavy rains on Friday worsened the crisis, flooding roads and making many areas unreachable. Emergency services struggled to keep up. Over a thousand people are still missing as officials race to find survivors. In Valencia city, authorities set up a temporary morgue in a courthouse to manage the rising number of deaths. In La Torre, water rose to chest height, bringing in volunteers to help search and rescue.
Rescue teams have found several bodies, including seven in a parking garage where floods trapped them. The Spanish Armed Forces have rescued more than 4,600 people in the region. In Paiporta, the so-called “ground zero” of the disaster, floodwaters swept residents off roads that turned into rivers. A collapsed bridge and vehicles abandoned on highways added to the destruction. Witnesses described the chaos as they watched helplessly.
Cleanup efforts are ongoing. Residents, volunteers, and officials work tirelessly to restore order. Valencia’s mayor shared progress updates, reporting steady advances in debris removal and restoring services. Carlos Mazon, the Valencia regional president, responded to public criticism, saying initial forecasts underestimated the storm’s severity. He noted that the government sent multiple alerts, including high-level warnings as the storm hit.
Rain continues to fall. Authorities issued a red alert for Andalusia’s Huelva coast, where severe weather remains. Orange and yellow alerts are active in other affected areas, keeping communities on high alert as they prepare for possible further rainfall. (Courtesy of CNN)
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