Rescue teams in Spain have raised the death toll from the country’s worst floods in decades to 205 as the government deployed additional troops in a frantic search for survivors.
The floods, which began on Tuesday, have caused widespread devastation in eastern Valencia, tossing vehicles, collapsing bridges, and burying towns under mud. In Valencia alone, 202 fatalities have been confirmed, with neighboring Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia reporting three additional deaths.
Rescue operations are underway, with teams using drones and sniffer dogs to search for dozens still unaccounted for. To enhance these efforts, the government is sending 500 extra troops to join the 1,200 already on the ground.
Many areas remain cut off from water, food, and electricity three days after the floods began, and with several roads and rail lines still inaccessible, concerns about the death toll rising persist. “There’s a pile of cars in the industrial estate—many must be empty, but we’re sure others are occupied,” said Amparo Fort, the mayor of Chiva.
According to the national weather service AEMET, the town near Valencia recorded 491 mm of rain in just eight hours on Tuesday, nearly equivalent to a full year’s worth.
In a show of increasing desperation, authorities are responding to reports of looting, with 50 arrests made for crimes including theft from cars and a jewelry store. In Aldaia, resident Fernando Lozano observed thieves taking items from an abandoned supermarket, highlighting the growing unrest.
The destruction is evident across the region, with tarmac from damaged roads scattered in fields and mud covering the ground floors of homes. The courthouse in Valencia has been converted into a morgue, with health workers transporting stretchers covered in white sheets.
Amid the chaos, hundreds of volunteers have mobilized from Valencia, bringing shovels, buckets, and supplies to assist those in need. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised the “limitless solidarity” of the Spanish people and promised continued support.
The Valencia regional government has advised against travel to the worst-hit areas, cautioning that emergency services may be unable to reach those in need due to unstable roads.
As hundreds spend another night without power or communication in temporary shelters, AEMET has issued high alert warnings for torrential rain across parts of southern Andalusia, Valencia, Catalonia, and the Balearic Islands. The storm that caused the flooding, which typically occurs this time of year, is reportedly intensified by climate change, leading to more severe and frequent extreme weather events.
