Deaths soar over 200 in Valencia amid fresh fears of flooding and new rain alert issued

The number of those killed in catastrophic flash flooding in Spain has soared to at least 205, as fresh weather warnings for rain prompt fears of further flooding.

The death toll rose significantly on Friday as rescue workers continued to search for missing people. 202 of those killed were in the hardest-hit region of Valencia alone.

Spain’s state weather agency, Aemet, has issued the most severe kind of weather alert in the south west of the country as the province of Huelva was hit by torrential rain.

Those impacted the worst by the flash flooding in eastern Spain are also expecting more rain, as yellow and amber weather warnings remain in place.

The country is in its second day of an official three-day national mourning, with flags at half-mast on official buildings.

Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez urged residents to stay at home as he warned devastation is “not finished” on Thursday and declared the worst impacted province of Valencia a “disaster zone”.

Key points

• Death toll in Spain floods rise to 205

• More rain expected in worst-affected regions

• ‘Terrified’ Valencia flood victim shows scale of devastation

• EU says ‘catastrophic’ Spain floods should serve as warning

Tourist hotspot Palma in Majorca on high alert for storm and flooding

23:06 , Holly Evans

The tourist hotspot Palma on the island of Majorca is bracing itself for heavy rainfall and floods as the deadly storm, which has killed more than 200 people, heads towards the Balearic Islands.

Locals and tourists have been urged to remain inside after Spain‘s national weather service warned that the brunt of the storm was headed for Majorca.

Palma’s first deputy mayor, Javier Bonet told people to only leave their homes if it is “absolutely necessary”.

He said: “We are not on red alert, but it is essential to warn the population to avoid greater risks.”

Expat teacher in Spain still trapped after flood waters surround town and food runs out

23:00 , Holly Evans

An expat teacher living south of Valencia in Spain says he is unable to leave his town due to being “surrounded by water” following flash flooding in the region.

John Fahy, 55, who lives in a seaside town called Cullera, also reported there being no food in the supermarkets, with no new supplies expected for a while.

At least 158 people have been killed in Spain’s worst flooding disaster this century, with rescue workers searching for bodies in stranded cars and sodden buildings.

Read the full article here:

Expat teacher in Spain still trapped after flood waters surround town near Valencia

‘Where is the aid? My town is a cemetery’: Spanish flood victim reveals horror

22:00 , Holly Evans

More than 200 people have been killed in Spain as the army joined rescue efforts on Friday in the aftermath of the worst flash floods to hit the country in decades, leaving victims in the ravaged region begging for aid.

Dani Sorní, a 22-year-old resident of Paiporta, the epicentre of the disaster, described the grave conditions. “This town is a cemetery, with bodies trapped under a metre-and-a-half of mud and under cars,” he told The Independent.

With the final death toll feared to be 400, survivors described a “tsunami” of water trapping victims in their cars and their fury over poor planning and slow response by authorities.

Read the full article here:

Spanish flood victim reveals devastation from town where 62 people were killed

Citizens fill the void left by authorities

21:21 , Holly Evans

There are so many people coming to help the hardest-hit areas that the authorities have asked them not to drive or walk there, because they are blocking the roads needed by the emergency services.

“It is very important that you return home,” said regional President Carlos Mazïn, who thanked the volunteers for their goodwill. The regional government has asked volunteers to gather at a large cultural center in the city Saturday morning to organize work crews and transport.

Electricity was at last restored for Chiva’s 20,000 residents on Thursday night, and there is still no running water. Local governments have been distributing water, food and basic necessities in towns across Valencia affected by the flash floods, and the Red Cross is using its vast network of aid to help those affected.

In Chiva, the Civil Guard police officers have been searching collapsed houses and the gorge for bodies, and directly traffic. Firefighters are helping ensure buildings were safe. Some 500 soldiers have been deployed in the Valencia region to deliver water and essential goods to those in need, and more are on the way.

‘I never thought this could happen,’ says local

20:48 , Holly Evans

Mud cakes her boots, splatters her leggings and the gloves holding her broom. Brown specks freckle her cheeks.

The mire covering Alicia Montero is the signature uniform of the impromptu army of volunteers who for a third day Friday shoveled and swept out the muck and debris that filled the small town of Chiva in Valencia after flash floods swept through the region. Spain’s deadliest natural disaster in living memory has left at least 205 people dead with untold numbers still missing, and countless lives in tatters.

As police and emergency workers continue the grim search for bodies, authorities appear overwhelmed by the enormity of the disaster, and survivors are relying on the esprit de corps of volunteers who have rushed in to fill the void.

While hundreds of people in cars and on foot have been streaming in from Valencia city to the suburbs to help, Montero and her friends are locals of Chiva, where at least seven people died when Tuesday’s storm unleashed its fury.

“I never thought this could happen. It moves me to see my town in this shape,” Montero said. “We have always had autumn storms, but nothing like this.”

Why were Spain’s ‘catastrophic’ floods so deadly? Everything we know as images reveal devastation

20:25 , Holly Evans

At least 205 people are dead after Spain was struck by the worst floods in recent memory that submerged towns, toppled bridges and cut entire communities off from the outside world.

The deadly floods left cars piled up like toys in streets, swallowed homes, and covered entire neighbourhoods in sludge and debris.

Muddy rivers swept away everything in their path – roads, houses and key infrastructure.

Read the full article here:

Why were Spain’s ‘catastrophic’ floods so deadly? Everything we know

Driver clings to car roof as water surges through roads

20:00 , Holly Evans

Valencia residents face ‘disaster’ as more rain expected

19:35 , Holly Evans

Skies in Valencia were partially sunny on Friday, but the Spanish weather agency has issued alerts for strong rains in the region as well as the coast of Huelva, Andalusia; Tarragona, in Catalonia; and part of the Balearic Islands.

The storm cut power and water services on Tuesday night, but about 85% of 155,000 affected customers had their power back on by Friday, the utility said in a statement.

“This is a disaster. There are a lot of elderly people who don’t have medicine. There are children who don’t have food. We don’t have milk, we don’t have water. We have no access to anything,” a resident of Alfafar, one of the most affected towns in south Valencia, told state television station TVE. “No one even came to warn us on the first day.”

Is it safe to travel to Spain and should I cancel my holiday after flooding disaster?

19:10 , Holly Evans

Eastern Spain has been hit with devastating flash flooding this week, the worst flooding disaster the area has experienced in decades.

Rainstorms started on Tuesday (29 October) and continued into Wednesday. In the aftermath of the floods, cars have been piled on the street surrounded by a sea of debris from damaged buildings and structures.

At least 158 people have lost their lives after the flooding swept through streets, turning walkways into rivers and trapping people in their homes and on the roofs of cars.

Read the full article here:

Is it safe to travel to Spain? Should I cancel my holiday?

Scientists blame climate change which is ‘turbocharging’ extreme weather

18:45 , Holly Evans

Spain’s Mediterranean coast is used to autumn storms that can cause flooding, but this was the most powerful flash flooding in recent memory. Scientists have linked it to climate change, which is also behind increasingly high temperatures and droughts in Spain and the heating up of the Mediterranean Sea.

“Climate change is turbocharging extreme weather. We can expect to see more of the devastation and the despair that we have been seeing this week as a warming atmosphere brings more energy into our climate system”, said Clare Nullis, a spokesperson for the World Meteorological Organization.

“As a result of rising temperatures, the hydrological cycle has accelerated. It’s also become more erratic, more unpredictable”, she added. “We are facing growing problems of either too much water or too little. And that’s what we’re seeing playing out in Spain at the moment.”

Spain has suffered through an almost two-year drought, making the flooding worse because the dry ground was so hard that it could not absorb the heavy rain.

Storms cause disruption at Barcelona airport

17:51 , Holly Evans

Spain’s air navigation service provider Enaire has warned that “adverse weather” due to the storms is causing disruption to arrivals at Barcelona airport.

In a post on X, Enaire says the situation is being monitored and advises people to check with their airline for updates.

Earlier today, they posted a similar warning for flights arriving at Palma de Mallorca airport.

‘It’s all destroyed’: Aftermath of deadly flash floods in Spain

17:31 , Holly Evans

Huge numbers of volunteers take part in rescue operation

17:06 , Holly Evans

The tragedy has unleashed a wave of solidarity across Spain, with hundreds of residents arriving on foot in the worst affected areas, carrying water, essential products, shovels and brooms to help remove the mud.

The number of people coming to help is so high that the authorities have asked them not to drive or walk there, because they are blocking the roads needed by the emergency services.

“It is very important that you return home,” said regional president Carlos Mazïn, who thanked the volunteers for their goodwill.

Other than volunteer contributions, local governments have begun distributing water, food and basic products in schools, town halls and sports venues.

The Red Cross used its vast network of aid to help those affected by the floods. Since Tuesday, it has carried out more than 3,500 interventions, half of them in 13 of the shelters set up by the authorities, to distribute food, blankets and hygiene products, and to provide internet access.

1,700 soldiers searching for unknown number of missing people

16:39 , Holly Evans

So far, 205 bodies have been recovered — 202 in Valencia, the worst hit region, two in neighboring Castilla La Mancha and one in Andalusia in the south.

Members of the security forces and 1,700 soldiers from the emergency unit are searching for an unknown number of missing people with officials concerned that more bodies could be found in wrecked vehicles and flooded garages.

Guardia Civil has rescued more than 4,500 people trapped by the floods, said Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska in a news conference from Valencia.

The regional authorities, who are in charge of the response to the tragedy, have asked the central government to mobilize an additional 500 soldiers, who will be deployed on Saturday.

‘UK stands with Spain,’ says Starmer

16:26 , Holly Evans

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the “UK stands with Spain” after devastating floods killed more than 200 people with dozens more missing.

My thoughts are with those who have lost their lives, their families and all those affected by the devastation caused by the extreme flooding in Spain. The UK stands with Spain during this difficult time.

Red alert lifted in Spanish region

16:12 , Holly Evans

A red alert in the Spanish region of Huelva has been lifted by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), which had been in place since early Friday morning.

Orange warnings have also been lifted in Castellon and Tarragona, while orange warnings remain in place for Huelva and the Balearic Islands.

Situation ‘unbelievable’ with streets filled with debris and vehicles, says local

15:59 , Holly Evans

The damage from the storm has recalled the aftermath of a tsunami, with survivors left to pick up the pieces as they mourn loved ones lost in Spain’s deadliest natural disaster in living memory. Many streets were still blocked by piled-up vehicles and debris, in some cases trapping residents in their homes. Some places still don’t have electricity, running water, or stable telephone connections.

“The situation is unbelievable. It’s a disaster and there is very little help,” said Emilio Cuartero, in Masanasa, on the outskirts of Valencia city. “We need machinery, cranes, so that the sites can be accessed. We need a lot of help. And bread and water.”

In Chiva, residents were clearing debris from mud-filled streets. The Valencian town received more rain in eight hours on Tuesday than it had in the preceding 20 months, and water overflowed a gully that crosses the town, tearing up roads and homes.

The mayor, Amparo Fort, told RNE radio that “entire houses have disappeared, we don’t know if there were people inside or not.”

Human-driven climate change fuelling extreme weather

15:30 , Athena Stavrou

The tragedy is already Spain’s worst flood-related disaster in modern history, and meteorologists say human-driven climate change is making such extreme weather events more frequent and destructive.

In 2021, at least 185 people died in heavy flooding in Germany. Prior to that, 209 people died in Romania in 1970 and floods in Portugal in 1967 killed nearly 500 people.

Research group Climate Central said in a report on Thursday that a low-pressure system behind Spain’s floods had tapped into an “atmospheric river” carrying excess moisture from the unusually warm Tropical Atlantic.

According to its Climate Shift Index: Ocean, human-caused climate change has made these elevated sea surface temperatures at least 50 to 300 times more likely.

Spain floods mapped: Where are weather alerts in force as death toll hits 205?

14:30 , Athena Stavrou

Weather warnings are in force across swathes of Spain as further storms approach on the heels of devastating flooding which has claimed at least 205 lives – making it the country’s worst natural disaster in living memory.

Prime minister Pedro Sanchez has warned that the devastation caused by flash flooding is “not finished” as he declared Valencia a “disaster zone” on Thursday. Urging residents to remain in their homes, he said: “Right now the most important thing is to safeguard as many lives as possible.”

Cities such as Valencia and Malaga were inundated this week after nearly a year’s worth of rain – close to half a metre – fell in just eight hours in some areas, leaving residents “trapped like rats” in homes and cars, as described by one desperate local mayor recalling the chaos.

Andy Gregory reports:

Spain floods mapped: Where are weather alerts in force as death toll hits 158?

The bridge of solidarity’

14:00 , Salma Ouaguira

People in Valencia have transformed dispair into action and are organising marches to deliver vital food and water supplies to neighbouring towns ravaged by the disaster.

Jorge Ramos Tolosa is among hundreds who are crossing the Jorge Meliá Lafarga bridge, which is the only way to reach the nearest towns of Torrent and Paiporta.

The passage has now been transformed into a “bridge of solidarity” to reach those affected by the deadly floods. “We are doing what the regional authorities have not been able to do for days,” he told The Independent.

“The aid is not reaching all the places it should, and this is due to the negligence of the regional President of Valencia.”

The history lecturer from the University of Valencia said the outpouring of support from locals was spontaneous. People filled their bags with water, food and cleaning supplies for the victims and walked miles for hours to deliver the humble aid.

“The solidarity of people is invaluable. Amidst the desolation, devastation and sadness we are experiencing here, it is beautiful and encouraging to see this wave of support,” Mr Tolosa said.

Spain flood victim says her entire home was engulfed in less than 10 minutes

13:32 , Athena Stavrou

A terrified Valencia flood victim has revealed the scale of the devastation after heavy floodwaters engulfed her home in a matter of minutes.

Alba Paredes Borja is from the Spanish town of Alfafar, one of the areas hardest hit by the deadly storm, where local authorities are calling for urgent help in receiving food, water and medical supplies.

“I’m terrified. Everything looks apocalyptic,” she told The Independent. The floods – known as the “cold drop” or DANA phenomena – have claimed 158 lives, including at least three people in the municipality, leaving the city in ruins and cut off from all communication.

Salma Ouaguira reports:

‘Terrified’ Spain flood victim reveals scale of devastation: ‘It’s apocalyptic’

Latest pictures from Spain

13:11 , Athena Stavrou

Anger grows over authorities’ handling of crisis

12:49 , Athena Stavrou

As the shock dissipated, anger grew over the authorities’ handling of the crisis, both for their late warnings of the looming floods and the chaotic relief response.

Many survivors had to walk long distances in sticky mud to find food and water. Most of their cars had been destroyed and the mud, destruction and debris left by the storm made some roads unpassable. Some pushed shopping carts along sodden streets while others carried their children to keep them out of the muck.

Some 150,000 people in Valencia were without electricity on Wednesday, but roughly half had power by Thursday.

An unknown number did not have running water and were relying on whatever bottled water they could find.

The region remained partly isolated with several roads cut off and train lines interrupted, including the high-speed service to Madrid. Officials said it would take two to three weeks to repair that damaged line.

And with emergency personnel focused on recovering the dead, survivors were left to find basic supplies and clean up the mess. Volunteers joined locals in moving wrecked vehicles, removing junk and sweeping mud.

With local services clearly overwhelmed, Valencia regional President Carlos Mazon on Thursday asked if Spain’s army could assist with distributing basic goods to the population. The government in Madrid responded by promising to send in 500 more soldiers, more national police and Civil Guards.

Valencia opens temporary morgue

12:27 , Athena Stavrou

A temporary morgue has been set up in Valencia as the death toll in the region continues to rise.

Vehicles and personnel from Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME) were filmed going in and out of the Feria Valencia building.

The death toll from the flash floods has now risen to 205, with 202 of the victims being in the region of Valencia alone.

Death toll soars to 205

12:06 , Athena Stavrou

The death toll from the flash floods that destroyed eastern Spain has now risen to 205.

The new number marks a sharp increase in the last official toll of 158, with 202 of the victims being in the region of Valencia alone.

The tragedy is already Spain’s worst flood-related disaster in modern history, and the death toll is now the highest for a single country in Europe since Romania’s floods killed 209 people in 1970.

Satellite images shows vast destruction following flash flooding

11:36 , Athena Stavrou

500 more soldiers deployed

11:26 , Athena Stavrou

An extra 500 soliders are being deployed to the Valencia region to boost rescue efforts as many more people remain missing.

More than 1,000 Spanish soldiers were initially deployed when flash floods hit eastern Spain earlier this week, but more are set to join.

Spain’s defence minister, Margarita Robles, said on Friday. “Their missions include helping to dig out people who may be in basements or lower floors – unfortunately there are a lot of them – and helping to pump out water [from roads] to allow transportation so that food and water can reach certain populations.”

Early action can mitigate flood destruction, UN climate agency says

11:12 , Athena Stavrou

Effective flood warning systems could help to avoid the level of destruction that has occurred in the Valencia region of Spain this week, the World Meteorological Organization said on Friday.

“We do need to ensure that the early warnings reach those who need them,” WMO official Clare Nullis told a regular UN briefing. “We need to ensure that early warnings lead to informed early action.”

Nullis declined to comment on whether Madrid had acted too slowly in warning residents about the floods, saying only that it was something that “Spanish authorities need to examine”.

Hundreds of volunteers go to help victims

10:53 , Athena Stavrou

Hundreds of volunteers have been pictured walking towards the La Torre neighborhood to help people affected by the flash flooding.

Everything we know about Spain’s ‘catastrophic’ floods as images reveal devastation

10:29 , Athena Stavrou

At least 158 people are dead after Spain was struck by the worst floods in recent memory that submerged towns, toppled bridges and cut entire communities off from the outside world.

The deadly floods left cars piled up like toys in streets, swallowed homes, and covered entire neighbourhoods in sludge and debris.

Muddy rivers swept away everything in their path – roads, houses and key infrastructure.

Thousands of people are still facing power and water cuts and shortages of basic goods, especially in the eastern region, the worst affected.

Here’s all we know about the devastating floods, the causes, and the scale of the impact.

Everything we know about Spain’s ‘catastrophic’ floods that killed 158

Entire homes ‘disappeared’, says mayor

09:38 , Athena Stavrou

Entire homes in the areas worst-affected by flash flooding have “disappeared”, a mayor of a small town in Valencia has said.

Chiva Mayor, Amparo Fort, told local media this morning that citizens needed more financial aid from the government as the full extent of the damage comes to light.

“Entire houses have disappeared,” she said. “We don’t know if they are with or without people.”

She added: “We continue to ask for food and water. We need milk, mashed food for babies and the elderly.”

Expat teacher in Spain still trapped after flood waters surround town and food runs out

08:56 , Athena Stavrou

An expat teacher living south of Valencia in Spain says he is unable to leave his town due to being “surrounded by water” following flash flooding in the region.

John Fahy, 55, who lives in a seaside town called Cullera, also reported there being no food in the supermarkets, with no new supplies expected for a while.

“The army was only sent in two, three hours ago, because now they’re finding more bodies in garages,” Mr Fahy, from Dublin, said.

“We can’t leave our town because it’s flooded all around. There’s no-one in the shops in Cullera because there’s no food and there won’t be for a while.”

Weather warnings in place today

08:37 , Athena Stavrou

There are a number of weather warnings in place in the areas hit by flash flooding – as well as more severe alerts in other parts of Spain.

In the province of Valencia – which saw the worst impacts of the flooding – there are several yellow and amber weather warnings in place. This means those most affected by the floods are expecting even more rain.

In the south west of the country a red weather alert has been put in place int the province of Huelva.

Pictures: Spain wakes up to another day of desperate searching

08:10 , Athena Stavrou

Everything we know on Friday morning

07:45 , Athena Stavrou

As Spanish rescue workers continue their search for those still missing in the worst flooding disaster the country has seen in modern history, here is what we know on Friday morning:

– The official death toll in now 158 – will 155 of those coming from the worst-hit province of Valencia.

– The death toll is expected to rise as an unkown number of people remain missing.

– Spain is in its second day of a three-day national mourning period. Flags are flying half mast across the country and a minute of silence was held on Thursday.

– Valencia has been declared a disaster zone.

Anger grows over authorities’ handling of crisis

07:00 , Tara Cobham

As the shock dissipated, anger grew over the authorities’ handling of the crisis, both for their late warnings of the looming floods and the chaotic relief response.

Many survivors had to walk long distances in sticky mud to find food and water. Most of their cars had been destroyed and the mud, destruction and debris left by the storm made some roads unpassable. Some pushed shopping carts along sodden streets while others carried their children to keep them out of the muck.

Some 150,000 people in Valencia were without electricity on Wednesday, but roughly half had power by Thursday.

An unknown number did not have running water and were relying on whatever bottled water they could find.

The region remained partly isolated with several roads cut off and train lines interrupted, including the high-speed service to Madrid. Officials said it would take two to three weeks to repair that damaged line.

And with emergency personnel focused on recovering the dead, survivors were left to find basic supplies and clean up the mess. Volunteers joined locals in moving wrecked vehicles, removing junk and sweeping mud.

With local services clearly overwhelmed, Valencia regional President Carlos Mazon on Thursday asked if Spain’s army could assist with distributing basic goods to the population. The government in Madrid responded by promising to send in 500 more soldiers, more national police and Civil Guards.

In pics: Valencia before and after the devastating floods

06:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Violent weather event surprises regional government officials

06:00 , Tara Cobham

The violent weather event has surprised regional government officials.

Spain’s national weather service said it rained more in eight hours in the Valencian town of Chiva than it had in the preceding 20 months.

A man wept as he showed a reporter from national broadcaster RTVE the shell of what was once the ground floor of his home in Catarroja, south of Valencia.

It looked as though a bomb had detonated inside, obliterating furniture and belongings, and stripping the paint off some walls.

In Paiporta, mayor Maribel Albalat said Thursday that at least 62 people had perished in the community of 25,000 next to Valencia city.

“(Paiporta) never has floods, we never have this kind of problem.

“And we found a lot of elderly people in the town centre,” Ms Albalat told RTVE.

“There were also a lot of people who came to get their cars out of their garages … it was a real trap.”‘

Priority to find victims and missing people, says prime minister

05:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Prime minister Pedro Sanchez yesterday said the government’s priority was to find “victims and the missing” so that “we can help end the sufferings of their families”.

At least 158 people have died in the floods that washed the eastern coast of Spain this week. Dozens are still missing with officials racing against time to find them.

“We are searching house by house,” Angel Martinez, one of 1,000 soldiers helping with rescue efforts told Spain’s national radio RNE from the town of Utiel, where at least six people died.

Watch: Elderly woman and baby airlifted to safety amid Spanish flash flooding

05:00 , Tara Cobham

Weather warning for today

04:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Heavy rains continued as the Spanish weather agency issued more rain alerts for the southern coast of Valencia along with the Tarragona and Castellon regions.

Climate change is making extreme downpours in Spain heavier and more likely, scientists say

04:00 , Tara Cobham

Human-caused climate change made Spain’s rainfall about 12% heavier and doubled the likelihood of a storm as intense as this week’s deluge of Valencia, according to a rapid but partial analysis Thursday by World Weather Attribution, a group of international scientists who study global warming’s role in extreme weather.

Monstrous flash floods in Spain claimed at least 158 lives, with 155 deaths confirmed in the eastern Valencia region alone. An unknown number of people are still missing and more victims could be found. Crews searched for bodies in stranded cars and sodden buildings Thursday.

World Weather Attribution said climate change is the most likely explanation for extreme downpours in southern Spain, as a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, leading to heavier downpours. The group noted its analysis is not a full, detailed attribution study, as the scientists did not use climate models to simulate the event in a world without human-caused warming.

Read more here:

Climate change is making extreme downpours in Spain heavier and more likely, scientists say

‘Everything looks apocalyptic’, says Spain flood victim

03:49 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

A terrified Valencia flood victim has revealed the scale of the devastation after heavy floodwaters engulfed her home in a matter of minutes.

Alba Paredes Borja is from the Spanish town of Alfafar, one of the areas hardest hit by the deadly storm, where local authorities are calling for urgent help in receiving food, water and medical supplies.

“I’m terrified. Everything looks apocalyptic,” she told The Independent. The floods – known as the “cold drop” or DANA phenomena – have claimed 158 lives, including at least three people in the municipality, leaving the city in ruins and cut off from all communication.

Salma Ouaguira reports.

‘Terrified’ Spain flood victim reveals scale of devastation: ‘It’s apocalyptic’

EU says ‘catastrophic’ Spain floods should serve as warning

03:16 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Officials of the European Union cited the devastating flooding in Spain as a reminder of the self-harming effects of humans’ destruction of nature.

European Commission envoy Florika Fink-Hooijer said the “catastrophe” in Spain’s Valencia region highlighted the link between biodiversity loss and human-caused climate crisis.

“If we act on biodiversity, we at least can buffer some of the climate impacts,” Ms Fink-Hooijer said at a press conference.

“At this COP we really have a chance to act,” she added.

Floods demolish bridges and roads become floating graveyards

03:00 , Tara Cobham

The floods have demolished bridges and left roads unrecognisable as they became floating graveyards.

Rushing water turned narrow streets into death traps and spawned rivers that tore through homes and businesses, sweeping away cars, people and everything else in its path.

Luis Sanchez, a welder, said he saved several people who were trapped in their cars on the flooded V-31 highway south of Valencia city.

The road rapidly became a floating graveyard strewn with hundreds of vehicles.

“I saw bodies floating past. I called out, but nothing,” Mr Sanchez said.

“The firefighters took the elderly first, when they could get in. I am from nearby so I tried to help and rescue people.

“People were crying all over, they were trapped.”

Watch: ‘Terrified’ Valencia flood victim shows scale of devastation

02:00 , Tara Cobham

Spain floods mapped: Where are weather alerts in force?

01:00 , Tara Cobham

Weather warnings are in force across swathes of Spain as further storms approach on the heels of devastating flooding which has claimed at least 158 lives – making it the country’s worst natural disaster in living memory.

Prime minister Pedro Sanchez has warned that the devastation caused by flash flooding is “not finished” as he declared Valencia a “disaster zone” on Thursday. Urging residents to remain in their homes, he said: “Right now the most important thing is to safeguard as many lives as possible.”

Cities such as Valencia and Malaga were inundated this week after nearly a year’s worth of rain – close to half a metre – fell in just eight hours in some areas, leaving residents “trapped like rats” in homes and cars, as described by one desperate local mayor recalling the chaos.

My colleague Andy Gregory reports:

Spain floods mapped: Where are weather alerts in force as death toll hits 158?

Crews search for bodies in stranded cars and sodden buildings

00:00 , Tara Cobham

Crews searched for bodies in stranded cars and sodden buildings as residents salvaged what they could from their ruined homes following monstrous flash floods in Spain that claimed at least 158 lives, with 155 deaths confirmed in the eastern Valencia region alone.

More horrors emerged on Thursday from the debris and ubiquitous layers of mud left by the walls of water that produced Spain’s deadliest natural disaster in living memory.

The damage from the storm late Tuesday and early Wednesday recalled the aftermath of a tsunami, with survivors left to pick up the pieces as they mourn their loved ones.

Cars were piled on one another like fallen dominoes, uprooted trees, downed power lines and household items all mired in mud that covered streets in dozens of communities in Valencia, a region south of Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast.

An unknown number of people are still missing and more victims could be found.

“Unfortunately, there are dead people inside some vehicles,” Spain’s Transport Minister Oscar Puente said early on Thursday before the death toll spiked from 95 on Wednesday night.

What caused the devastating flash flooding in Spain?

Thursday 31 October 2024 23:00 , Tara Cobham

As emergency services continue their desperate search for those still missing in Spain, many are questioning what caused the devastating flash flooding which has killed at least 158 people.

Dubbed “the flood of the century”, rainfall on Tuesday saw wide swathes of southern and eastern Spain completely destroyed by torrents of muddy water.

With cars tumbling down streets in Valencia and village roads turned to rivers, the army was drafted in to assist in the ongoing rescue operation.

My colleague Athena Stavrou reports:

What caused the devastating flash flooding in Spain?

Farms ruined by rains as storms hit beyond Valencia

Thursday 31 October 2024 22:00 , Tara Cobham

Greenhouses and farms across southern Spain, known as Europe’s garden for its exported produce, were also ruined by heavy rains and flooding.

While the most suffering was inflicted on municipalities near the city of Valencia, the storms unleashed their fury over huge swaths of the south and eastern coast of the Iberian peninsula.

Two fatalities were confirmed in the neighboring Castilla La Mancha region and one in southern Andalusia.

The storms spawned a hail storm that punched holes in cars in Andalusia, while homes were left without water as far southwest as Malaga in the region.

Heavy rains continue as Spanish weather agency issues alerts and PM warns ‘stay home’

Thursday 31 October 2024 21:00 , Tara Cobham

Heavy rains have continued farther north on Thursday as the Spanish weather agency issued alerts for several counties in Castellón, in the eastern Valencia region, and for Tarragona in Catalonia, as well as southwest Cadiz.

“This storm front is still with us,” the prime minister warned. “Stay home and heed the official recommendation and you will help save lives.”

Spain flood victim says her entire home was engulfed in less than 10 minutes

Thursday 31 October 2024 20:30 , Tara Cobham

A terrified Valencia flood victim has revealed the scale of the devastation after heavy floodwaters engulfed her home in a matter of minutes.

Alba Paredes Borja is from the Spanish town of Alfafar, one of the areas hardest hit by the deadly storm, where local authorities are calling for urgent help in receiving food, water and medical supplies.

“I’m terrified. Everything looks apocalyptic,” she told The Independent. The floods – known as the “cold drop” or DANA phenomena – have claimed 158 lives, including at least three people in the municipality, leaving the city in ruins and cut off from all communication.

Salma Ouaguira reports:

‘Terrified’ Spain flood victim reveals scale of devastation: ‘It’s apocalyptic’

Human-driven climate change fuelling extreme weather

Thursday 31 October 2024 20:00 , Tara Cobham

The tragedy is already Spain’s worst flood-related disaster in modern history, and meteorologists say human-driven climate change is making such extreme weather events more frequent and destructive.

In 2021, at least 185 people died in heavy flooding in Germany. Prior to that, 209 people died in Romania in 1970 and floods in Portugal in 1967 killed nearly 500 people.

Research group Climate Central said in a report on Thursday that a low-pressure system behind Spain’s floods had tapped into an “atmospheric river” carrying excess moisture from the unusually warm Tropical Atlantic.

According to its Climate Shift Index: Ocean, human-caused climate change has made these elevated sea surface temperatures at least 50 to 300 times more likely.

Rescue teams continue to search for ‘dozens and dozens’ missing

Thursday 31 October 2024 19:37 , Tara Cobham

Rescue teams continue to search for those missing in the devastating flash floods in eastern Spain in what could become Europe’s worst storm-related disaster in over five decades.

The death toll from the extreme weather climbed to 158 on Thursday after a year’s worth of rain fell in eight hours in parts of the Valencia region two days before.

“There’s a total of 158 people to which must be added dozens and dozens of missing,” Angel Victor Torres, minister in charge of cooperation with Spain’s regions, told a press conference.

Flood survivors say regional Spanish officials waited too long to warn them of the danger

Thursday 31 October 2024 18:49 , Tara Cobham

Moments after rushing waters burst through the door to her home, Mari Carmen Pérez received a text message alert from regional Spanish authorities warning her of the possibility of flash floods.

By the time Pérez’s phone buzzed, the water has already gushed into her kitchen, living room and bathroom, forcing her and her family to flee upstairs.

“They didn’t have any idea of what was going on,” Pérez, a 56-year-old cleaner, said Thursday by phone from Barrio de la Torre in Valencia. “Everything is ruined. The people here, we have never seen anything like this.”

Read more here:

Flood survivors say regional Spanish officials waited too long to warn them of the danger

‘Cold drop’ and flood defences: What caused the devastating flash flooding in Spain?

Thursday 31 October 2024 17:33 , Athena Stavrou

As emergency services continue their desperate search for those still missing in Spain, many are questioning what caused the devastating flash flooding which has killed at least 158 people.

Dubbed “the flood of the century”, rainfall on Tuesday saw wide swathes of southern and eastern Spain completely destroyed by torrents of muddy water.

The region is known to be particularly vulnerable to torrential autumn downpours, caused by a weather phenomenon known as the “cold drop” or DANA.

However, the destructive weather system is believed to be worsening in the wake of climate change, accumulating in this week’s flash flooding being the worst the region has seen in three decades.

From weather phenomena to flood defences: here is what may have accelerated Spain’s deadly flash floods:

What caused the devastating flash flooding in Spain?

Government advice on travel to Spain

Thursday 31 October 2024 17:04 , Athena Stavrou

As of 31 October the UK’s Foreign Office (FCDO) travel advice said that journeys may be affected due to severe weather and flooding affecting many areas of southern and eastern Spain, particularly in the Valencia region and Castilla La Mancha.

The FCDO advises checking the latest weather warnings from Spain’s meteorological office before travelling and following the instructions from local authorities.

In terms of the Foreign Office’s general advice about travelling to a destination that has been impacted by flooding, they warn that the flood waters can cause devastation and loss of life. After a flood, they also warn that there is an increased risk of water-borne diseases and transport infrastructure can be severely impacted.

The European Meteorological Services advises to only travel if a journey is essential to the southern and northern coast of Castellón, as well as the northern interior of Castellón.

“Extreme or catastrophic damages to people and properties may occur, especially to those vulnerable or in exposed areas,” they wrote.

Spain floods mapped: Where are weather alerts in force as death toll hits 158?

Thursday 31 October 2024 16:38 , Athena Stavrou

Weather warnings are in force across swathes of Spain as further storms approach on the heels of devastating flooding which has claimed at least 158 lives – making it the country’s worst natural disaster in living memory.

Prime minister Pedro Sanchez has warned that the devastation caused by flash flooding is “not finished” as he declared Valencia a “disaster zone” on Thursday. Urging residents to remain in their homes, he said: “Right now the most important thing is to safeguard as many lives as possible.”

Cities such as Valencia and Malaga were inundated this week after nearly a year’s worth of rain – close to half a metre – fell in just eight hours in some areas, leaving residents “trapped like rats” in homes and cars, as described by one desperate local mayor recalling the chaos.

Andy Gregory reports:

Spain floods mapped: Where are weather alerts in force as death toll hits 158?

Police arrest 39 for looting in wake of floods

Thursday 31 October 2024 16:13 , Athena Stavrou

Spanish police have arrested 39 people for looting shops in the wake of flash flooding.

Thieves took advantage of the chaos sparked by the deadly flooding, with Spain’s national police sharing shocking images of a smashed jewellery store window alongside a large amount of goods taken by looters.

Watch: ‘Terrified’ Valencia flood victim shows scale of devastation

Thursday 31 October 2024 15:35 , Athena Stavrou

Death toll rises again

Thursday 31 October 2024 15:15 , Athena Stavrou

The death toll in eastern Spain has risen again, as emergency workers continue their desperate search for survivors.

At least 158 people have been killed by the flash flooding – a sharp increase in the 95 people confirmed dead this morning.

155 of those deaths were confirmed in the hardest-hit region of Valencia.

‘I feel helpless,’ says woman searching for lost relative in Valencia floods

Thursday 31 October 2024 14:52 , Salma Ouaguira

A woman is still searching for her lost relative amid the destroyed houses and flooded streets of Valencia.

As the waters recede, Marta Rodríguez Múria and her family hold onto hope that her cousin David can be rescued alive. The 32-year-old told The Independent: “The last we heard, he was driving to work.

“His car was found abandoned between Buñol and Chiva, but he’s vanished.”

Just moments before the storm struck, her cousin reached out to her aunt, calling for help as he was caught in the storm’s fury. They haven’t heard anything since.

She added: “We don’t know if he’s safe or if the water swept him away. My aunt is inconsolable. We’re all heartbroken, trapped in this nightmare.”

In Torrente, where she lives, people have been cut off from the outside world. Roads are destroyed, trains are canceled, and supermarkets are filled with panic buyers.

She added: “I’m left without food or water, and I can’t even pay for supplies because all the systems are down.

“We’re just waiting for a glimmer of news, something that tells us he’s safe. At this point, we just want to hear something—good or bad.”

Marta claimed people were not warned about the severe weather until it was “too late.”

She said: “I feel powerless. There should have been better warnings. People were sent to work as if there was no danger coming. The material damage is one thing, but many lives could have been spared.”

Death toll soars to 140

Thursday 31 October 2024 14:27 , Athena Stavrou

The official death toll has risen dramatically to 140, Spain’s state-run news agency EFE has said.

The new figure is a sharp rise from the previous number of 95, reported this morning.

More from Spanish PM’s speech earlier

Thursday 31 October 2024 14:23 , Athena Stavrou

Spain’s prime minister spoke earlier today as he visited some of the areas worst affected by this week’s flash floods.

He urged residents to stay vigilant as he warned the effects of flash floding are “not finished”

Speaking at the Emergency Services Coordination Centre in Valencia, Pedro Sanchez also declared Valencia as a disaster zone and raised the official crisis level to level two.

He told people affected by the flooding to stay at home, as many in the region brace themselves for more extreme weather today.

“We will not abandon the people of Valencia,” he said. “We will be here with you all the time necessary and deploying all resources necessary. Our priority, obviously, right now is to find victims, to find missing persons. Also, so that friends or family can really address the anxiety that families, victims and missing persons are going through.”

Climate crisis ‘worsened all 10 deadliest weather events’

Thursday 31 October 2024 14:03 , Athena Stavrou

Climate change made the 10 deadliest extreme weather events over the past two decades worse, contributing to the deaths of more than 570,000 people, scientists have said.

Climate scientists said the finding “underscores how dangerous extreme weather events have already become” with just 1.3C of global warming above pre-industrial levels.

It also highlights the urgency of cutting the greenhouse gas emissions driving rising temperatures and more extreme weather, they said, as the world is currently on track for 3C of warming by the end of the century – a level recently described by UN chief Antonio Guterres as “catastrophic”.

More here.

Climate change ‘worsened all 10 deadliest weather events in past two decades’

Watch: Driver clings to car roof as water surges through roads

Thursday 31 October 2024 13:45 , Athena Stavrou

Lammy sends condolences

Thursday 31 October 2024 13:27 , Athena Stavrou

David Lammy has sent his condolences to Spain on behald of the UK government.

The foreign secretary wrote on X: “The UK government expresses its heartfelt condolences to those affected by the tragic floods across Spain – our thoughts are with those that have lost their lives, their families and all those affected.”

He added that he offered the UK’s full support to his counterpart, José Manuel Albares.

What caused deadly floods in Spain?

Thursday 31 October 2024 13:08 , Athena Stavrou

As emergency services continue their desperate search for those still missing in Spain, many are questioning what caused the devastating flash flooding which has killed at least 95 people.

The region is known to see be particularly vulnerable torrential autumn downpours, caused by a weather phenomenon known as the “cold drop” or DANA.

However, the destructive weather system is believed to be worsening in the wake of climate change, accumulating in this week’s flash flooding being the worst the region has seen in three decades.

When cold air blows over warm Mediterranean waters it causes hotter air to rise quickly and form dense, water-laden clouds that can remain over the same area for many hours, raising their destructive potential.

Eastern and Southern Spain are particularly susceptible to the phenomenon due to its position between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea

People shop in mud-covered supermarket in Valencia

Thursday 31 October 2024 12:26 , Athena Stavrou

‘This is not finished’, warns PM

Thursday 31 October 2024 11:30 , Athena Stavrou

Spain’s prime minister has urged residents to stay vigilant as he warned the effects of flash floding are “not finished”

Speaking at the Emergency Services Coordination Centre in Valencia, Pedro Sanchez also declared Valencia as a disaster zone and raised the official crisis level to level two.

He told people affected by the flooding to stay at home, as many in the region brace themselves for more extreme weather today.

“The most important thing is that I know Spanish people are aware that this phenomenon has not finished,” he said.

“The Spanish weather agency has still raised alerts in Valencia and elsewhere around Spain. And so I urge everybody else to heed those recommendations and to heed the advice of, the law enforcement and protection authorities. All of those who have been affected, please stay at home.”

Bodies still trapped in cars, minister says

Thursday 31 October 2024 11:26 , Athena Stavrou

Emergency services are continuing to frantically search for any survivors in eastern and southern Spain following deadly flash flooding across the region.

Shocking images have emerged of piled up vehicles, tumbled down by muddy water in worst-hit regions of Valencia.

Spain’s transport minister, Oscar Puente, told media that rescue workers will be facing the task of recovering some bodies from these vehicles.

“Unfortunately, there are dead people inside some vehicles,” he said.

Valencia to be declared a disaster zone – PM

Thursday 31 October 2024 11:18 , Athena Stavrou

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 farmers devastated by flood damage

Thursday 31 October 2024 10:19 , Athena Stavrou

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.

EU fly flags half mast following tragedy

Thursday 31 October 2024 10:14 , Athena Stavrou

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.”

Severe weather warning issued

Thursday 31 October 2024 09:29 , Athena Stavrou

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!”

Spanish president to visit Valencia today

Thursday 31 October 2024 09:13 , Athena Stavrou

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.