Spanish authorities said the death toll from yesterday’s flooding in Valencia had reached 200, with more than a thousand soldiers from Spain’s emergency services joining regional and local rescuers as they continue to search for survivors, the Guardian reported.
Spain’s defence minister said soldiers had recovered 22 bodies and rescued 110 people by Wednesday evening.
“We are searching from house to house,” Ángel Martínez, an official from the military emergency unit, told Spanish national radio RNE on Thursday from the town of Utiel, where at least six people died.
Thousands of people were left without water and electricity, and hundreds were trapped after their cars were destroyed or roads were blocked.
According to the Guardian, the consequences of the floods looked eerily similar to the damage caused by a powerful hurricane or tsunami.
Cars piled on top of each other like broken toys, uprooted trees, downed power lines and household items covered in a layer of mud cover the streets of Barrio de la Torre, just one of dozens of affected localities in the hard-hit region, where 92 people have died.
“Unfortunately, there are dead people in some of the vehicles,” said Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente, referring to the hundreds of cars and trucks trapped on roads covered in brown mud.
“The neighborhood is destroyed, all the cars are on top of each other, it’s literally crushed,” said Christian Viena, a bar owner in Barrio de la Torre.
Meanwhile, flags on the European Commission buildings were flown at half-mast today, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offered support for the country.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrived in Valencia this morning and addressed the media.
“The priority right now is to find those who are missing in order to ease the suffering of their families. We will support the search by land, sea and air as long as it takes to find all the missing people,” he said.
“Please, the storm continues, stay home. Please listen to all emergency calls, their needs and recommendations. The most important thing is to save as many lives as possible. AEMET issues warnings, please respect these warnings”, he added.
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