Valencia faces devastation as ’at least 51 confirmed dead’ and vehicles are swept away due to unexpected severe weather in Spain
At least 50 people are so far dead in Valencia, Spain, where flash floods of churning mud coloured water has caused havoc in the country, with more storms forecast
Dozens of people have been killed and several more are missing amid flash floods in Valencia, as Spain struggles with freak weather in the country with more storms to come.
Huge rain storms caused churning mud-coloured waters which have swept through areas, from Malaga down to Valencia on its east coast, causing at least 50 deaths according to emergency teams in the region. Terrifying images and video shared from the areas affected have shown the several-feet high rapid waters sweeping away cars.
More people are feared missing or dead in the affected areas of the country. Mayor of Utiel, Ricardo Gabaldon, told RTVE several people have been trapped in their homes.
Police and rescue services used helicopters to air lift people from homes and cars. An emergency rescue brigade of around 1,000 soldiers from Spain’s army has been deployed to help rescue efforts. People have been warned supplies of drinking water may be affected by the rising tides.
Carlos Mazón, president of the Generalitat, posted on X: "These are very difficult times for relatives and missing persons. In the next few hours we will confirm the number of victims, but right now it is still impossible to provide an exact figure. We are dismayed.
Una gran persona jamás abandona a su mascota. Ni con el agua al cuello inundándose su casa en Valencia mientras la rescatan.
— Fran Navarro (@fran_navarr0) October 30, 2024
Toda mi admiración???????? pic.twitter.com/d4uO8EzLft
"We reiterate the importance of NOT travelling by road, both in the province of Valencia and in Castellón. The telephone number for assistance to relatives of missing persons is activated. We have started to rescue, we have started to access places that until very recently were inaccessible, and we continue to work."
Floods have caused devastation in areas of the country ( Image: AP)
One video from the scene showed a woman being rescued from severe flooding at her home, gripping her pet dog tightly as teams worked to winch her to a helicopter. Terrifying footage overnight showed the water surging through a street.
In Malaga, a high-speed train with nearly 300 people on board derailed. Although no one was hurt in the incident, it has brought some travel to a standstill.
Horas muy complejas para familiares y desparecidos. En las próximas horas confirmaremos número de víctimas, ahora mismo aún es imposible poder ofrecer una cifra exacta. Estamos consternados. pic.twitter.com/YfAfvef8UX
— Carlos Mazón (@carlos_mazon_) October 30, 2024
The national government office for the Castilla La Mancha region told radio channel Cadena Ser six people in the region were missing. Spanish news agency EFE said a truck driver was missing in L’Alcudia, a town in Valencia.
Storms were forecast to continue through Thursday, according to Spain’s national weather service. An emergency rescue brigade of Spain’s army deployed to help rescue efforts.
People have been told to stay in their homes as the crisis goes on ( Image: AFP via Getty Images)
People have been ordered to stay at home and avoid all non essential travel as the disaster continues to unfold.
British couple Vitalij Farafonov and his wife were stuck in their car for ten hours amid the confusion. They told Sky News: “It was mayhem as we counted nine or 10 overturned lorries on a half mile stretch of the motorway. We’ve never seen anything like it."
Rescue workers look on as a river bursts its banks in Valencia ( Image: AP)
Football side Valencia CF has offered to help those afefcted in "any way possible", as it requested a Copa Del Ray match tonight be postponed. The club wrote on X: "Due to heavy rain and storms, the Generalitat, through the Emergency Coordination Center, recommends avoiding any type of travel in the province of Valencia.
"We make ourselves available to the authorities and municipalities affected to help in any way possible. Valencia has requested to postpone the match the team had planned to play tomorrow in Madrid against Parla Escuela.
The region has been hot by flash floods of muddy water ( Image: Getty Images)
"The Club considers that it is the most appropriate measure due to the serious consequences of we are experiencing in the province of Valencia, the recommendations to avoid travel and the communication cuts with Madrid."
Spain has experienced similar autumn storms in recent years. The country has recovered somewhat from a severe drought this year thanks to rainfall. Scientists say increased episodes of extreme weather are probably linked to climate change.
Deputy Editor
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