Flash floods in Spain claim over 50 lives
A person walks in a flooded street after the Spanish meteorological agency put the Valencia region in the highest red alert for extreme rainfalls, in Llombai, Valencia, Spain, October 29, 2024. REUTERS/Eva Manez
Devastating flash floods in southeast Spain have claimed the lives of at least 51 people, according to authorities in Valencia.
The floods, triggered by torrential rains on Tuesday, swept away cars, turned village streets into rivers, and disrupted rail lines and motorways across southern and eastern Spain.
The extreme weather prompted Spain’s state weather agency, Aemet, to declare a red alert in Valencia, with areas like Turis and Utiel receiving a staggering 200mm of rainfall.
Dramatic videos shared on social media showed people trapped by floodwaters, clinging to trees to avoid being swept away. Emergency responders, including police and rescue services, deployed helicopters to rescue people stranded in their homes and cars.
Regional leader Carlos Mazon reported that some individuals remain isolated in inaccessible areas. To combat the crisis, over 1,000 soldiers from Spain’s emergency response units were deployed to the affected regions. The regional emergency services confirmed the provisional death toll of 51, with efforts underway to identify the victims.
The tragedy marks another instance of severe autumn storms in Spain, which is still recovering from a severe drought earlier this year. Climate experts suggest that these intense weather episodes are likely linked to climate change. Unfortunately, storms are forecasted to persist through Thursday, as announced by Spain’s national weather service.
