Torrential rains hit eastern Spain on Wednesday night. Rainstorms that began on Tuesday caused massive flooding across areas from the city of Malaga in the south to Valencia in the east.
In parts of the region known as the Valencian Community, a year’s worth of rain fell within just eight hours, according to local meteorologists cited by Reuters. The rainstorms resulted in the deadliest flooding in Spain in three decades.
At least 70 people died in the disaster according to El Pais, citing government sources, and some are still missing. The Spanish military has been deployed to assist in the search for missing persons and recover victims’ bodies. Aircraft and specially trained dogs are involved in the operation, the newspaper reported.
The death toll was the highest in the EU since 2021, when at least 185 people died in flooding in Germany. It is the deadliest flood in Spain since 1996, when 87 people lost their lives under similar circumstances.
Dozens of people spent the night atop trucks or on the roofs of shops, gas stations, and houses, according to Spanish media. The rains caused blackouts affecting approximately 140,000 people, the outlet said.
🚨🚨🇪🇸🇪🇸
— World Crisis Tracker (@WorldCrisi19621) October 30, 2024
It's still raining 😭
At least 95 people dead after flash floods in eastern Spain; many unaccounted for.
Stay Safe 🙏
Pray for Spain#DANA #Chiva #Valencia #Storm #Spain #Floods #Flooding #SpainFloods #Inundación #InundacionesEnEspaña #España https://t.co/JmF6AS1WbW pic.twitter.com/9fpZuB9VmF
