Several people are feared to have died after torrential rain caused flash floods in southern and eastern Spain.
The president of the region of Valencia confirmed the deaths to reporters early on Wednesday, October 30, whilst not specifying the exact number.
Speaking after the region was hit by a month’s worth of rain in just four hours, Carlos Mazon said: “Dead bodies have been found, but out of respect for the families, we are not going to provide any further data.”
Mazon called for those in areas trapped by floods to remain calm, as he urged those able to do so to move to places of safety.
Addressing those still trapped, Mazon added: “We will get there, and if we haven’t already, it’s not because of a lack of capacity, but because of a problem of access.”
The deluge of rain has shut down many roads and train lines across the region. Video footage on local media showed muddy water sweeping through the town of Letur in the eastern province of Albacete on Tuesday, with cars and debris in its path.
Footage on social media appeared to show a bridge being swept away in Paiporta, Valencia, after 13.5 inches of rain fell in just four hours.
Emergency services workers are using drones to search for the missing in the badly affected municipality of Letur, local official Milagros Tolon told Spanish public television station TVE.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez took to X to urge people to follow the guidance of the authorities.
He said: “I am closely following with concern the reports on missing persons and the damage caused by the storm in recent hours.”
Naturally, the flooding has caused severe travel chaos, with flights in and out of the region largely suspended.
Footage from Valencia airport overnight showed the tarmac and runways completely covered with water. Inside, hundreds of passengers were left stranded, with many taking to the floor to rest.
The shocking scenes are believed to be a result of a phenomenon known as “cold drop”, which occurs when cold air moves over the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This seasonal occurrence creates atmospheric instability, causing warm, saturated air to rise rapidly, leading to the formation of towering cumulonimbus clouds in a short space of time.
Scientists have long warned that extreme weather event such as this will become more common as a result of climate change.
