At least 95 people dead in Spain's devastating flash floods
Photo: flood in Valencia (getty images)
Flash floods in Spain transformed village streets into rivers, destroyed homes, disrupted transportation systems, and claimed the lives of at least 95 people, according to AP.
Rainstorms that began on Tuesday triggered flooding in southern and eastern Spain, affecting areas from Málaga to Valencia. Mudslides mixed with debris and household items swept cars through the streets at high speed. Police and rescue services deployed helicopters to extract individuals from homes and used inflatable boats to reach drivers stranded on the roofs of their vehicles.
Emergency services in the eastern Valencia region confirmed the death toll of 92 on Wednesday. Two more fatalities occurred in the neighboring region of Castilla-La Mancha, while one death was reported in southern Andalusia.
Rescue teams and over 1,100 soldiers from Spain's emergency response units were dispatched to the affected areas. The Spanish central government established a crisis committee to coordinate rescue efforts.
Spain's national meteorological agency reported that more rainfall fell in Valencia in eight hours than in the previous 20 months combined.
The death toll is likely to rise as reports of casualties from other regions are still pending and search operations in hard-to-reach areas continue.
Spain is still recovering from a severe drought, with record-high temperatures being recorded. Scientists indicate that the increasing frequency of extreme weather events is likely linked to climate change. Prolonged drought conditions complicate the land's ability to absorb large volumes of water.
