Spanish rescuers worked frantically on Wednesday to save individuals trapped by rapidly rising tides in floods that have claimed at least 95 lives, overturned cars, and caused significant transport disruptions.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged citizens to stay vigilant as the danger remains, and three days of mourning were declared for the country’s worst flood disaster in over 50 years.
Snce the beginning of the week, heavy rains and strong winds have battered Spain due to a storm that formed over the Mediterranean Sea, resulting in some areas receiving nearly a year’s worth of rainfall in just a few hours.
The emergency services coordinating body in the eastern Valencia region reported a provisional death toll of 92, with recovery and identification of bodies ongoing. Two additional fatalities were confirmed in neighboring Castilla-La Mancha, and another in southern Andalusia.
Government minister Angel Victor Torres indicated that the death toll could increase as “many people are still missing.”
In Sedavi, a suburb of Valencia, streets were inundated with mud and piled-up cars. Residents were seen trying to clean the sludge and bail water from their homes, facing a long night without water or electricity.
A town councillor in Ribarroja del Turia, Esther Gomez, reported that workers were stranded overnight in an industrial area with no chance of rescue due to overflowing streams. “It had been a long time since this happened, and we’re scared,” she told AFP.
According to Spain’s weather service AEMET, the town of Chiva recorded 491 mm of rain in just eight hours on Tuesday—almost equal to an entire year’s worth.
Sanchez stated that the government’s “absolute priority” is to assist the victims, adding, “All of Spain weeps with you… We won’t abandon you.” He emphasized that the disaster is not over and pledged to deploy all necessary resources for recovery.
King Felipe VI expressed his devastation over the news on X and extended heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families, thanking emergency services for their “titanic” efforts.
Damage to phone networks and flooded roads hindered access to affected communities in the Valencia region. Approximately 155,000 homes were without electricity, according to energy company Iberdrola, which has sent 500 workers to restore power.
Defence Minister Margarita Robles stated that over 1,000 troops, supported by helicopters, were being deployed to address the “unprecedented phenomenon.”
The European Union activated its Copernicus satellite system to assist Spanish rescue teams, as Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced that the bloc would offer additional civil protection resources.
Officials in the Valencia region reported that survivors were being housed in temporary accommodations, including fire stations, while rail and air transport faced severe disruptions. The high-speed train line between Valencia and Madrid will remain suspended for at least four days, according to rail infrastructure authority Adif.
Further downpours are anticipated, with AEMET issuing a red alert for heavy rains near the southern coastal city of Cadiz and rough weather expected in northeastern Catalonia.
This flood toll marks Spain’s deadliest since 1973, when at least 150 people died in the southeastern provinces of Granada, Murcia, and Almeria.
Meteorologists have attributed the latest storm to cold air moving over the warm waters of the Mediterranean, producing intense rain clouds—a phenomenon common for this time of year. Scientists have warned that extreme weather events like storms are becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change.
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Leslie Mabon, a senior lecturer in environmental systems, noted that such extremes can overwhelm existing defenses and contingency plans, even in a relatively wealthy country like Spain.
The high death toll also raised concerns about Valencia’s flood alert system, with hydrology professor Hannah Cloke stating, “People just don’t know what to do when faced with a flood or when they hear warnings.”
