Madrid: At the moment, at least 95 individuals have perished due to intense flash floods across Spain, with emergency teams working tirelessly to locate more missing persons, as reported by CNN on Wednesday, quoting authorities.
The area most severely affected was Valencia, where 92 deaths have been confirmed by Angel Victor Torres, Spain's Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, as reported by CNN. Additionally, fatalities were reported in Castile-La-Mancha and Andalusia.
In Valencia's Paiporta, 40 people, including six residents of a retirement home, have died, Mayor Maribel Albalat of Valencia reported to CNN, citing the Spanish state news agency EFE.
Different regions in the south and east of Spain received up to 12 inches of rainfall in just a few hours on Tuesday (local time), marking the heaviest rainfall Valencia has seen in nearly three decades, according to the state meteorological agency AEMET.
The situation turned chaotic as most of the roads became impassable, with vehicles being swept away by floodwaters.
CNN reported videos from rescue teams showing streets submerged, individuals stranded on rooftops, and cars overturned.
Emergency services in Valencia, Malaga, and Castile-La-Mancha are still on the hunt for the missing.
Emiliano Garcia-Page, the president of Castile-La-Mancha's regional government, described the flooding as a "dam burst," indicating that it was more than just a heavy rainstorm.
Train services between Madrid and Valencia have been halted, along with other public services in the affected areas. Schools, museums, and public libraries in Valencia are expected to remain closed on Thursday.
CNN also reported that around 1,200 individuals are still stranded on various sections of highways in Valencia, and 5,000 vehicles are stuck due to the rising waters.
In locations near rivers such as Utiel and Paiporta, the water levels have overflowed into the streets, carrying away vehicles and debris, according to CNN en Espanol.
The weather event, known as "cold drop," has led to the most severe flooding Valencia has faced in the last century, though it's uncertain if climate change played a role in it, CNN reported, citing AEMET.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has promised to use all available resources to help those affected by the floods and has urged the public to remain cautious. He is set to visit Valencia on Thursday.
Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles has described the floods as an "unprecedented phenomenon," announcing that over 1,000 military personnel have been deployed for rescue efforts.
The Spanish government has declared three days of official mourning to honor the victims, starting Thursday.
