VALENCIA: Spanish rescuers worked tirelessly on Wednesday to save people trapped by rapidly rising muddy waters in floods that have claimed at least 62 lives in the eastern Valencia region.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged citizens to remain vigilant as the emergency persisted, promising not to “abandon” those affected by this unprecedented disaster in the country.
Since the beginning of the week, heavy rain and strong winds have battered Spain, leading to severe flooding in both Valencia and southern Andalusia. Emergency services in the Valencia region reported a provisional death toll of 62 on social media, noting that recovery and identification efforts for victims were ongoing. This number is likely to increase as other regions have yet to provide casualty reports.
According to Jose Miguel Basset, chief of the fire service in Valencia, “several hundred people” remained stranded on two motorways in the area. Many parts of the region are currently without power and phone service, while flooded roads have hindered rescue operations, as highlighted by regional president Carlos Mazon.
An AFP journalist reported that vehicles were strewn about and piled on top of each other near Valencia following a mudslide. Residents struggled to clear mud from their homes with buckets, wading through waist-deep water in a desperate effort to salvage their belongings.
Maria Carmen, a Valencia resident, recounted how she had to climb through her car window and take refuge on the roof of a van for hours to escape the rising waters.
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In a televised address, Sanchez emphasized that the government’s “absolute priority” is to support the victims. “All of Spain weeps with you… We won’t abandon you,” he declared.
He stressed that the disaster is not yet over and committed to deploying all necessary resources for as long as needed to aid recovery from this tragedy.
