In the Valencia region, authorities reported that at least 155 people have died due to the devastating floods, making it the most affected area by the tragedy. The landscape after the disaster showed scenes reminiscent of the aftermath left by a hurricane or tsunami, with cars piled up like dominoes and trees uprooted, submerged in the mud that covered the streets of many Valencian communities.
According to the Spanish Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, there have been victims in vehicles swept away by the torrential waters, which turned the narrow streets into death traps and created rivers that devastated homes, businesses, and vehicles in their path. Mari Carmen Pérez recounted how her home in the Barrio de la Torre was invaded by water, forcing her family to flee to the upper floor when the front door gave way under the force of the torrent.
Rescue operations and the search for victims continue intensively, with a number of missing persons still unaccounted for and the possibility that more people have lost their lives. Authorities, along with emergency teams, have been conducting operations to locate survivors among the rubble and in stranded vehicles. The President of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, has declared three days of official mourning in the country in memory of the victims.
The heavy rains also caused damage to railway lines and farmland, leaving thousands of people without electricity in the region. Looting situations have been reported in affected areas, leading the National Police to make arrests. On the other hand, climate change is pointed to as a factor that has exacerbated the magnitude of the storm, causing an unprecedented meteorological event in the region.
The tragedy has had a profound impact on various localities, such as Paiporta, where a high number of fatalities is recorded. Rescue efforts continue to reach other affected regions, such as Castilla La Mancha and Andalusia, where authorities continue to search for missing persons and assess the damage caused by the natural disaster.
