VALENCIA: Spain mourned at least 158 deaths on Thursday, as unprecedented flooding devastated regions in the country’s east, and authorities urged residents in flood-stricken regions to stay indoors.
The floods, triggered by an exceptionally powerful Mediterranean storm on Tuesday, have left parts of the Valencia region and nearby areas submerged. Search and rescue operations are underway to find survivors.
Valencia’s regional rescue coordination body reported 155 bodies recovered as of Thursday afternoon, while three more deaths were confirmed in the Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia regions. Authorities fear the death toll could rise, with many still unaccounted for and some areas remaining inaccessible due to floodwaters.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged residents in the hardest-hit provinces of Valencia and Castellon to follow safety guidelines and stay indoors. “Right now, the most important thing is to save as many lives as possible,” Sanchez said, as he directed resources to rescue and relief efforts.
Meanwhile, King Felipe VI warned that the emergency “is still not over,” as Spain’s national weather service, AEMET, placed eastern and southern regions on high alert, expecting more rain.
Three days of national mourning has been announced with flags on government buildings lowered, and moments of silence were observed across Spain to honor the flood victims. This catastrophe marks Spain’s deadliest flood event in decades.
Valencia’s suburbs, such as Paiporta, bore the brunt of the disaster. Residents described terrifying scenes as currents swept people away, vehicles were piled like dominoes, and torrents of mud filled streets and homes.
Emergency services, backed by drones and over 1,200 troops, are clearing roads of debris and searching through mud-caked towns for survivors. Transport Minister Oscar Puente said that extensive flood damage has impacted road and rail networks, including the high-speed rail line between Madrid and Valencia, which may take up to three weeks to reopen.
