At least 51 people lost their lives in the eastern region of Valencia, Spain, as a result of the flash floods that hit the area. The European nation was affected by one of the worst natural disasters in its recent history. Emergency services in the Comunidad Valenciana region confirmed the death toll on Wednesday.
Tuesday's storms caused flooding in southern and eastern Spain, with forecasts that the conditions could extend until Thursday, according to the Spanish Meteorological Agency, in a country that is still recovering from a severe drought. Several people remain missing in various localities.
In the village of Letur, in the Castilla La Mancha region, six people have still not been found, according to Mayor Sergio Marín Sánchez. In another incident, a high-speed train with nearly 300 people on board derailed near Málaga, although fortunately, there were no injuries.
Spanish authorities have established a crisis committee to coordinate rescue operations in the affected areas. Although the rains decreased in Valencia by Wednesday morning, cars were found dragged by mud and debris in the streets.
Dozens of people were found dead after the tragedy. More than 1,000 soldiers from the Military Emergency Unit were deployed to provide assistance in the devastated areas. The mayor of Utiel, Ricardo Gabaldón, described the situation as the worst of his life, with reports of vehicles being swept away through the streets.
The episode of extreme weather phenomena in Spain has led to speculation about a possible connection to climate change. The magnitude of the tragedy has generated shock in the country, with authorities and rescue teams working hard in assistance and search operations for the missing.
