Images show scenes of devastation as at least 95 dead in Spanish flash floods

There have been scenes of utter devastation in Spain with almost 100 people now confirmed dead after flash floods hit part of the country. Three days of mourning have been declared by the Spanish government for the victims of the devastating flash floods. The flooding swept away cars, turned village streets into rivers and hit major roads and public transport lines in what is one of the worst natural disasters to hit the nation.

Authorities in the worst-hit areas had advised people to stay at home and avoid all non-essential travel. At least 95 people have died across eastern Spain, it was confirmed on Wednesday evening (October 30). Rainstorms on Tuesday caused flooding in a wide swathe of southern and eastern Spain, stretching from Malaga to Valencia.

Floods of mud-coloured water tumbled vehicles down streets at high speeds, while pieces of wood swirled in the water with household items. Police and rescue services used helicopters to lift people from their homes and rubber boats to reach drivers trapped on the roofs of cars. Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez said dozens of towns had been flooded.

He told a press conference: “For those who are looking for their loved ones, all of Spain feels your pain. Our priority is to help you. We are putting all the resources necessary so that we can recover from this tragedy.”

A view of a muddy and damaged road after catastrophic flash floods due to heavy rain in Utiel (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

Authorities reported several missing people late on Tuesday (October 29), but the following morning brought the shocking announcement of dozens found dead.

Scenes of the Valencia province were described as looking ‘like a warzone’. “Yesterday was the worst day of my life,” Ricardo Gabaldon, the mayor of Utiel, a town in Valencia, told national broadcaster RTVE. “We were trapped like rats.

Cars and trash containers were flowing down the streets. The water was rising to three metres,” he said. More than 1,000 soldiers from Spain’s emergency response units were deployed to the devastated areas.

Rescue services were also rushing eastwards from other parts of Spain. Spain’s central government set up a crisis committee to help coordinate rescue efforts.

View of a car in a flooded area after heavy rain hits Utiel, Spain (Image: Getty Images)

Television reports showed videos shot by panicked residents documenting how waters flooded the ground floors of apartments, streams bursting their banks and bridges giving way. The death toll will likely rise with other regions yet to report victims and search efforts continuing in areas with difficult access.

Spain is still recovering from a severe drought and continues to register record high temperatures in recent years. Scientists say increased episodes of extreme weather[2] are likely linked to climate change. The storms unleashed a freak hailstorm which punched holes in car windows and greenhouses as well as a rarely seen tornado.

Transport was also impacted. A high-speed train with nearly 300 people on board derailed near Malaga, although rail authorities said no-one was hurt. High-speed train service between Valencia city and Madrid was interrupted, as were several commuter lines.

Cars are piled in the street with other debris after flash floods in Valencia (Image: Getty Images)

Valencian regional president Carlos Mazon urged people to stay at home, with travel by road already difficult due to fallen trees and wrecked vehicles.

Authorities warned that the danger was not over with more rain coming. “The neighbourhood is destroyed, all the cars are on top of each other, it’s literally smashed up,” Christian Viena, a bar owner in the Valencian village of Barrio de la Torre, said. “Everything is a total wreck, everything is ready to be thrown away. The mud is almost 30 centimetres deep.”

Outside Mr Viena’s bar, people were venturing out to see what they could salvage. Cars were piled up and the streets were filled with clumps of water-logged branches. Located south of Barcelona down the Mediterranean coast, Valencia is a tourist destination known for its beaches, citrus orchards, and as the home of Spain’s paella rice dish.

Like some other areas of Spain, Valencia has gorges and small riverbeds that spend much of the year completely dry but quickly fill with water when it rains.

The rain had subsided in Valencia by late Wednesday morning.

But more storms were forecast through Thursday, according to Spain’s national weather service.

References

1. ^ UK foreign office issues Spain travel update after deadly floods (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
2. ^ weather (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)