LAST UPDATE | 52 mins ago
SPANISH AUTHORITIES SAY that 51 people have been killed in the east of the country after flash floods swept away cars, turned village streets into rivers and disrupted rail lines and highways.
Emergency services in Valencia confirmed the death toll on Wednesday.
Rainstorms yesterday caused flooding in a wide swathe of southern and eastern Spain, in the worst natural disaster to hit the nation in recent memory.
“First toll carried out by the different security and emergency forces: provisional number of dead victims at 51 people,” the regional emergency services wrote on social media, adding that bodies were being identified.
According to the European Severe Weather Database, a month’s worth of rainfall fell in some areas within a matter of hours.
Floods of mud-coloured water tumbled vehicles down streets at frightening speeds.
Police and rescue services used helicopters to lift people from their homes and cars.
High-speed train service between Valencia city and Madrid was interrupted, as were several commuter lines.
One train with nearly 300 people on board derailed near Malaga, although rail authorities said no-one was hurt.
Taoiseach Simon Harris has said the Irish government “will help in any way we can” following the disaster.
On behalf of Ireland, I send our deepest sympathies & solidarity to the people of Spain,” Harris said on social media.
On behalf of Ireland, I send our deepest sympathies & solidarity to the people of Spain and PM @sanchezcastejon after the horrific floods and loss of life overnight.
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) October 30, 2024
Ireland will help in any way we can, including through EU structures.
More than 1,000 soldiers from Spain’s emergency response units were deployed to the devastated areas.
“Yesterday was the worst day of my life,” Ricardo Gabaldon, the mayor of Utiel, a town in Valencia, told national broadcaster RTVE.
He said several people were still missing in his town.
“We were trapped like rats. Cars and trash containers were flowing down the streets. The water was rising to three metres,” he said.
Spain has experienced similar autumn storms in recent years, but nothing compared to the devastation over the last two days.
The death toll could easily rise with other regions yet to report victims and search efforts continuing in areas with difficult access.
In the village of Letur in the neighbouring Castilla La Mancha region, mayor Sergio Marin Sanchez said six people were missing.
Storms were forecast to continue through tomorrow, according to Spain’s national weather service.
This is a breaking news story
With reporting by PA and AFP
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