At least 62 people have died after relentless rains and flash floods swept across southeastern Spain, the BBC reported on Tuesday.
Heavy rains combined with fierce hailstorms have created deadly flood conditions across multiple regions, with the hardest-hit areas experiencing extreme infrastructure damage and significant transport disruptions.
Valencia’s regional president, Carlós Mazón, called the situation “impossible” to quantify precisely, given the ongoing crisis. “We’re still assessing the damage and continue to receive reports of missing individuals,” he was quoted as saying by the BBC.
Rescue efforts are in full force, but many areas remain cut off due to high waters and damaged roadways.
Shocking video footage on social media showed the scale of the catastrophe, with bridges collapsing under pressure, cars being dragged through flooded streets, and stranded residents desperately clinging to trees to avoid being swept away.
Chiva, a town in Valencia, recorded a staggering 491mm of rain in just eight hours on Tuesday—equivalent to the area’s average rainfall for an entire year.
Reports indicate that dozens of people in Valencia were forced to spend the night in their vehicles or took refuge on rooftops and bridges, awaiting rescue crews. For some, rescue may take days, as flooding and damaged infrastructure limit access by emergency services.
Excellent