Kehinde Fajobi
The death toll from the catastrophic flash floods in eastern Spain reached 158 on Thursday, with rescue teams continuing their search for those still missing.
Authorities warned the disaster, which struck after a year’s worth of rain fell in just eight hours, may become Europe’s deadliest storm-related event in over 50 years.
The flooding, which has devastated the Valencia region, now stands as Spain’s worst flood-related tragedy in modern history.
Angel Victor Torres, Spain’s minister for regional cooperation, stated in a press conference, “There’s a total of 158 people, to which must be added dozens and dozens of missing.”
Meteorologists attribute the increased frequency and severity of such events to human-driven climate change, noting that an “atmospheric river” brought excess moisture from the Tropical Atlantic to the region.
The impact on Valencia’s infrastructure has been severe, with bridges, roads, and rail lines swept away, and citrus-producing farmlands submerged.
Transport Minister Oscar Puente said approximately 80 kilometres of roads have been rendered impassable, with abandoned cars blocking many of them.
Unfortunately, there are dead bodies in some vehicles,” Puente confirmed, adding that restoring the high-speed rail link between Valencia and Madrid could take weeks.
Rescue crews uncovered eight bodies on Thursday, including that of a local policeman, trapped in a garage on Valencia’s outskirts, according to the city’s mayor, Maria Jose Catala.
In the same neighbourhood, a 45-year-old woman was also found dead in her home. Meanwhile, thousands of residents from La Torre, a hard-hit area, streamed into Valencia’s centre to gather essential supplies.
Opposition figures have criticised Madrid for allegedly failing to act swiftly enough to warn residents, a claim the Interior Ministry countered by noting that regional authorities are responsible for civil protection measures.
In the town of Paiporta, Mayor Maribel Albalat reported that 62 people had died, stating that many victims were trapped in their homes or while trying to retrieve their cars. “We found a lot of elderly people inside their homes. It was a trap,” Albalat told TVE.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who visited a rescue coordination centre near Valencia, urged residents to stay indoors, stressing that “the most important thing is to safeguard as many lives as possible.”
Pope Francis expressed his condolences, saying, “I’m close to them in this moment of catastrophe,” in a video message shared on X.