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Spain floods latest: Frantic search for ‘many missing people’ as deaths set to rise and new storm forecast

Death toll continues to rise after worst flash floods in three decades swept Spanish region of Valencia

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar,Athena Stavrou
Thursday 31 October 2024 07:20
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Spain: Floods sweep several cars away in Valencia province, Spain

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Spanish emergency services are continuing their desperate search for survivors following devastating flash flooding, as many of those affected are warned to expect more torrential rain today.

Authorities fear that the death toll is set to rise from the 95 already killed as dozens of people in eastern and southern Spain remain missing.

Torrential rain – amounting to a year’s worth in just eight hours in some areas – inundated cities such as Valencia and Malaga, many found themselves “trapped like rats” in their homes and cars, surrounded by rapidly rising floodwaters.

Valencia has now been declared a “disaster zone” by Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez, who announced the measure as he visited some of the worst affected areas on Thursday.

Many affected are preparing for more extreme weather, as Spain’s meteorological service Aemet issued a series of fresh warnings - including the most severe kind - for Thursday.

Red alerts have been issued for the province of Castellon, which is expected to see up to 180mm of rain in 12 hours.

Have you been affected by this? Get in touch at athena.stavrou@independent.co.uk.

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What do we know this morning?

As rescue workers continue trying to recover the dozens of people still missing, here is what we know on Thursday morning:

- At least 95 people have been killed after eastern Spain was hit by flash floods.

- Ministers have warned that the death toll is likely to rise as there are “many missing people”.

- A 71-year-old British man is among the dead.

- Forecasters are predicting more heavy rain for the areas affected.

- The rainstorms started on Tuesday and continued on Wednesday which triggered the devastating flooding.

- More than 1,000 soldiers from Spain’s emergency response unit have been deployed to the most devastated areas.

- The main areas affected are the eastern province of Valencia and neighbouring regions.

A car submerged in muddy water in Malaga, Spain (AP Photo/Gregorio Marrero)
A car submerged in muddy water in Malaga, Spain (AP Photo/Gregorio Marrero) (AP)
Athena Stavrou31 October 2024 07:29
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Valencia to be declared a disaster zone - PM

Spain’s prime minister has announced that Valencia is to be declared a disaster zone following the deadly flash flooding that has devastated the area since Tuesday.

Speaking at the Emergency Services Coordination Centre in Valencia, Pedro Sanchez also said the official crisis level has been raised to level two.

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez speaking at a press conference after the flash floods
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez speaking at a press conference after the flash floods (Sky News)
Athena Stavrou31 October 2024 11:18
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Spanish farmers devastated by flood damage

Spanish farmers have been devastated by the flash flooding, with crops wiped out and livestock killed.

Utiel residents Javier Iranzo, 47, and Ana Carmen Fernandez, 48, told Reuters the flooding had completely wrecked their pig farm, with 50 of their animals having drowned.

They estimated hundreds of thousands of euros worth of damages and, despite government pledges of help, said they worried about whether they would receive state aid to help rebuild.

(AP)
Athena Stavrou31 October 2024 10:19
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EU fly flags half mast following tragedy

The European Commission is flying its flags half mast today in solidarity with the lives lost in Spain’s flash flooding.

A picture of the EU flags outside the headquarters Brussels was shared on X/Twitter

“The European flags in front of our headquarters in Brussels are at half-mast. Our thoughts are with the victims of the floods in Spain, their families and the rescue teams. The floods in Spain are not only a national tragedy. It’s also a European one.”

Athena Stavrou31 October 2024 10:14
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Severe weather warning issued

Severe weather warnings have been issued by Spain’s state meteorological service Aemet for Thursday.

Calm weather returned on Thursday to the hardest-hit areas around the city of Valencia, Spain’s third-largest, but the Aemet state weather agency issued its highest level of alert for the province of Castellon.

Further north in the Catalonia region, an amber alert was issued for the city of Tarragona.

It warned: “Extreme danger! Do not travel in the area unless absolutely necessary!”

Athena Stavrou31 October 2024 09:29
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Spanish president to visit Valencia today

Spain’s president is set to visit some of the worst affected areas of Valencia on Thursday.

President Pedro Sanchez will be seeing the devastating damage first hand having already spoken with the Carlos Mazon and Emiliano García-Page, the presidents of the Valencia Community and Castilla-La Mancha.

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez speaking at a press conference after the flash floods
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez speaking at a press conference after the flash floods (Sky News)
Athena Stavrou31 October 2024 09:13
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Three days of mourning to begin today

Today (Thursday) marks the first official day of national mourning in Spain, after at least 95 people were killed by flash flooding.

Three days of mourning were declared by the Spanish government in the wake of the tragedy.

During an official mourning period, public events are often postponed or cancelled out of respect and flags fly at half mast.

Residents react as they wait for news of their relatives trapped during the floods in Valencia, Spain
Residents react as they wait for news of their relatives trapped during the floods in Valencia, Spain (AP)
Athena Stavrou31 October 2024 09:00
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Shocking images of cars strewn across motorway in flood aftermath

Spain Floods
Spain Floods (REUTERS)
Spain Floods
Spain Floods (REUTERS)
Athena Stavrou31 October 2024 08:46
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More rain expected to hit worst-affected areas

As emergency sevices continue to search for the dozens of people still missing in the devastating flash floods, more rain has been forecast for some of the worst-affected areas.

Spain’s state meteorological service Aemet has issued warnings yellow and orange warnings for much of eastern Spain, with up to 100mm of rain expected to fall within 12 hours in areas north of Valencia.

Valencia itself is also facing a yellow weather warning, with 20mm of rain expected to fall in one hour on Thursday.

The surrounding areas of Castello de la Plana, Vinaros, Morella and Tortosa are all subject to more severe orange weather warnings.

(Aemet)
Athena Stavrou31 October 2024 08:27
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In pics: Aftermath of the flooding in Spain

Cars are piled in the street with other debris after flash floods hit the region
Cars are piled in the street with other debris after flash floods hit the region (Getty Images)
Residents walk past piled up cars following deadly floods in Valencia’s De La Torre neighbourhood, south of Valencia
Residents walk past piled up cars following deadly floods in Valencia’s De La Torre neighbourhood, south of Valencia (AFP via Getty Images)
Floods triggered by torrential rains in Spain's eastern Valencia region has left at least 95 people dead
Floods triggered by torrential rains in Spain's eastern Valencia region has left at least 95 people dead (AFP via Getty Images)
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar31 October 2024 08:00

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