At least 62 people have died in Spain’s eastern Valencia region after flash floods swept through villages, carrying away cars, flooding streets and disrupting rail lines and highways in what officials are calling one of Spain’s worst natural disasters in recent memory.
Dramatic videos shared overnight show people trapped by floodwaters, with some climbing trees to avoid being swept away.
Carlos Mazon, Valencia’s regional leader, said some residents remain isolated in areas that are currently unreachable.
“If [emergency services] have not arrived, it’s not due to a lack of means or predisposition, but a problem of access,” Mazon said, adding that reaching certain places was “absolutely impossible".
Travel warnings
Regional emergency services have urged citizens to avoid road travel and stay informed through official channels.
Train routes to Madrid and Barcelona have been suspended, while schools and other essential services in the worst-hit areas remain closed.
Footage on social media shows firefighters rescuing drivers stranded in flooded streets in the town of Alzira.
Spain’s UME military unit, specialised in rescue operations, has been deployed to assist local emergency workers.
Spain’s weather agency AEMET has issued a red alert in Valencia, a major citrus-growing region, with some areas recording up to 200mm of rainfall.
Climate change
The death toll appears to be the worst in Europe from flooding since 2021, when almost 200 people died, mainly in Germany.
Scientists say extreme weather events in the region are becoming more frequent due to climate change.
Meteorologists believe the warming of the Mediterranean, which increases water evaporation, plays a key role in making torrential rains more severe.
The rain has reportedly subsided in Valencia, but more storms are forecast through Thursday.
