At least 158 people have died in Spain’s worst flooding disaster in generations.
On October 31, more than 1,200 workers, aided by drones, were deployed to the rescue mission as rains continued to threaten parts of the country.
“Right now the most important thing is to save as many lives as possible,” PM Pedro Sánchez told victims in a visit to affected communities.
In some of the towns worst- hit in October 29 floods, people were left to the task of recovering bodies from the mud and wreckage.
A least 155 deaths were recorded in Valencia, while another two have been recorded in Castilla-La Mancha to the province’s west, and another, a British man, in Andalusia.
In the town of Paiporta, Valencia where a river burst its banks, at least 40 deaths have been recorded so far.
Officials haven’t disclosed the number of people still missing but said there are “many”, as the toll rose by about another 60 deaths on October 31.
More than 90 deaths were recorded on October 30 alone in the immediate aftermath of the torrential rains and flash floods, which largely affected Valencia, as well as Castilla-La Mancha in Andalusia, and as far south as Malaga.
The town of Chiva near Valencia received the equivalent of one year’s rainfall in just eight hours according to the Spanish meteorological agency Aemet.
Image source: AP
As further rain warnings were issued for the south and east of the country on October 31, King Felipe VI warned the emergency was “still not over” and PM Sánchez warned citizens to take shelter where necessary.
Meanwhile in flood-affected areas, hundreds are sheltering in temporary accommodation and beginning the slow, arduous task of clearing streets and recovering homes and businesses.
Many roads and the rail network connecting Valencia to the rest of Spain remain cut off.
Spain began an official three-day national mourning period on October 31 with flags at half-mast on government buildings and minutes of silence held.
Public anger is growing over how a developed European country appeared to fail to warn many communities of the flood danger in time.
Questions have been asked over whether disaster management services issued warnings too late.
The civil protection agency, deployed during national disasters, did not issue an alert until 20:15 local time on October 29, by which time several places in Valencia had been flooded for hours.
Authorities have called the downpours and flooding “unprecedented”.
Many factors contribute to flooding, but a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely.
