BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — At least 95 people died in eastern Spain after sudden floods swept away cars, turned town streets into rivers, and cut off railway lines and highways, in the worst natural disaster to hit the European nation in recent memory.
Why did the floods occur in Spain?
The storms on Tuesday caused flooding in a large area of southern and eastern Spain, from Malaga to Valencia. Mud-colored waters swept vehicles downstream at dangerous speeds. Pieces of wood floated among household items. The police and rescuers used helicopters to evacuate people from their homes and rubber boats to reach drivers trapped on car roofs.
The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, said that dozens of towns had been flooded. "To those who are still searching for their loved ones at this hour, all of Spain cries with each and every one of you," said Sánchez in a televised speech. "Our absolute priority is to help you. We will provide all necessary resources today, tomorrow, and for as long as it takes so that we can recover from this tragedy."
Authorities reported several missing persons on Tuesday night, but the following morning brought the shocking announcement that dozens of victims had been found dead.
More than 1,000 soldiers from the Military Emergency Unit were deployed in the devastated areas. Rescuers were also sent from other parts of Spain. The central government of Spain formed a crisis committee to help coordinate rescue efforts.
An elderly couple was rescued from the upper floor of their house by a military unit using an excavator, with three soldiers accompanying them on the huge shovel.
The TV stations aired recorded videos by terrified residents documenting how the waters flooded the lower floors of the apartments, overflowing streams, and at least one collapsed bridge.
Spain has experienced similar autumn storms in recent years, but nothing compared to the devastation of the last two days, reminiscent of the floods in Germany and Belgium in 2021 that left 230 dead.
The death toll could easily increase, as other regions have not yet reported victims and search efforts continue in hard-to-reach areas. "Six people were still missing in the town of Letur, in the neighboring region of Castilla La Mancha," said the mayor, Sergio Marín Sánchez.
The storms unleashed an unusual hailstorm that pierced car windows and greenhouses, as well as an unusual tornado.
Transportation was also affected. A high-speed train with almost 300 people on board derailed near Malaga, although railway authorities said that no one was injured. The high-speed train service between the city of Valencia and Madrid was interrupted, as well as several short-distance routes.
Valencia, located south of Barcelona along the Mediterranean coast, is a tourist destination known for its beaches, citrus orchards, and as the home of paella, a typical dish with rice.
Like other areas of Spain, Valencia has gorges and beds of small rivers that are completely dry for most of the year but quickly fill with water when it rains. Many of these streams pass through populated areas.
The rains had decreased in Valencia by Wednesday morning. However, it was expected that the storms would continue until Thursday, according to the Spanish Meteorological Agency.