Floods hit Spain: Multiple bodies found, search for missing continues

Valencia: Torrential rains in eastern and southern Spain have caused severe flash flooding, with several bodies recovered in the Valencia region, regional government head Carlos Mazon confirmed on Wednesday. Authorities are withholding further information until next of kin are notified.

The flooding, brought on by heavy rains on Tuesday, inundated streets with muddy waters, swept away vehicles, and disrupted rail and air travel. Videos shared by residents show buildings and streets submerged by the deluge. Officials reported at least seven people are missing, including a truck driver in Valencia and six individuals from the town of Letur in Albacete province.

Drones and emergency teams are continuing search efforts overnight, with Milagros Tolon, the central government’s representative in Castilla-La Mancha, emphasizing that finding the missing is the “top priority.”

Crisis committee and public warnings

The Spanish central government has formed a crisis committee, which met late Tuesday to coordinate the response to the storm. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his concern on social media, urging people to “follow authorities’ advice” and to avoid non-essential travel.

In response to the storm, Valencia city authorities have suspended all school classes and sports events, while parks will remain closed. Air travel disruptions continued, with airport operator Aena reporting that 12 inbound flights to Valencia airport were rerouted, and 10 additional flights were canceled. Rail services throughout the Valencia region have also been suspended for safety reasons, with high-speed trains between Madrid and Valencia halted until at least 10 am on Wednesday, according to ADIF, the national rail operator.

In Andalusia, a high-speed train carrying 276 passengers derailed due to the extreme weather, but no injuries were reported. Emergency responders, including helicopter crews, rescued numerous people in Alora after a river overflowed. AEMET, the national weather agency, has issued a red alert for the Valencia region and a high-level alert for parts of Andalusia.

Scientists attribute the increased frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events, including storms and heatwaves, to climate change.