When rain poured down on Monday (October 28), people in the Spanish region of Valencia celebrated. However, when the downpour continued for the next 24 hours, the joy turned to sorrow — as the torrential rain triggered the deadliest floods in the country, killing at least 95 people.
Crews searched for bodies in stranded cars and sodden buildings on Thursday (October 31, 2024) as residents salvaged what they could from their ruined homes following monstrous flash floods in Spain that claimed at least 158 lives, with 155 deaths confirmed in the eastern Valencia region alone.
Spanish officials are expecting to find more bodies in the European country’s deadliest flood in more than 50 years. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has declared three days of national mourning, starting today (October 31), as the extreme conditions continue, restricting some rescue efforts.
“The DANA continues. Please heed the recommendations of the emergency services. Right now the most important thing is to safeguard everyone’s lives. The Government of Spain is with the victims and their families. This will be the case, for as long as necessary. With all the resources and all possible means. For reconstruction and the recovery of normality. The sooner the better”, wrote Spanish Prime Minister on X.
Officials note that areas in southern and eastern Spain — including cities such as Valencia, Murcia and Malaga — received more than a month’s worth of rain in a day. In the region of Andalusia, it was four times the amount of rain that usually falls in all of October.
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