Over 200 dead in Spain floods - 10,000 called in from the army to help in the aftermath

Updated November 3:

A large rescue operation is underway in Spain following the deadly floods, with several people reported missing.

An additional 10,000 soldiers and police officers are now being sent to Valencia to assist in the rescue efforts, announced Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Four days have passed since the floods swept away everything in their path in eastern Spain. At least 211 people have been confirmed dead, and according to Spanish authorities, an unknown number of people remain missing. Rescuers are still searching for bodies in cars and flooded buildings.

Sources from the Spanish newspaper report that authorities are working with an extensive alert list containing 2,500 calls regarding missing persons. Initially, this list was as high as 5,000 calls, according to the same sources, with hopes that it will continue to decrease.

No official figure on the number of missing persons has been published, the newspaper reports.

Around 160 fatalities in the Spain flooding - region of Valencia hit the hardest   

Updated October 31:

The floodwaters have led to the deaths of at least 158 people. 155 were in Valencia, two in Castile-La Mancha, and one in Andalusia. Additionally, hundreds of people were reported missing.

The flooding caused extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure, washing away roads and vehicles, and even derailing a high-speed train carrying nearly 300 passengers, though no injuries were reported in the incident.

Rescue and search efforts for survivors continued on Thursday. Many remain without power, and roads and railways have been cut off,  AP reports.

Meteorologists at AEMET had warned about the flooding in Spain, yet the warning was reportedly delayed.

On Thursday, Valencia’s mayor reported that nine bodies had been found in a garage, according to El País. A total of 158 people have now been confirmed dead, most in the Valencia area, Reuters reports.

New Weather Warning – Thousands Still Without Power

On Thursday, new rain warnings were issued for provinces just north of Valencia.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urges the public to closely follow authorities’ instructions.

“Right now, the priority is to save as many lives as possible,” said Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, according to AP.

Images reveal the destruction in the hardest-hit areas. Cars float down streets turned into rivers, and furniture and belongings lie scattered in front of houses where the rain was heaviest.

Photo Credit:

Cover Photo: Multiple cars damaged by the collapsed façade of a convenience store in Alginet, a town in the Ribera Alta in the province of Valencia.

 Wikipedia Commons License. By Eidursson - Own work, CC BY 4.0

The death toll is approaching 100 in Spain after severe flooding  - Unknown number of people missing - many areas inaccessible for USAR

Original post from October 30: 

The southern and eastern parts of Spain have been hit by severe flooding. Vehicles have been  swept away, houses are submerged, and the flood water has also reportedly caused a train to derail. Over 70 people have died in the Valencia region. Many people are still missing. 

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY WHICH WILL BE UPDATED

Unusual amounts of rain started to fall on Tuesday, October 29th  The flooding, triggered by the intense rain and storms, has caused extensive damage from the Málaga province in the south to Valencia in the east.

In the Valencia province, more than 92 fatalities have been reported, including four children, as confirmed by emergency services, reported by Spanish daily newspaper El País. 

The death toll for all of Spain reportedly stood at 95 fatalities on Wednesday evening, according to several media sources. 

"Out of respect for the families, we will not provide any further details," said Carlos Mazón, president of Valencia.

Government officials report that the exact number of missing people remains unknown. 

“The fact that we can’t give a number of the missing persons indicates the magnitude of the tragedy,” said Spain’s Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres.

Many people are still reported missing - Rainfall alerts still active for Catalonia and Andalusia

Although rainfall has eased in Valencia, maximum weather alerts remain in effect for parts of Catalonia and western Andalusia. Spain's meteorological agency AEMET described the rainfall in some regions as "extraordinary".  

The hardest-hit area is Valencia province, where certain regions received 200 millimeters of rainfall within just a few hours, according to the Spanish meteorological agency.   Typically, only 77 millimeters fall throughout the entire month of October in this region.

According to Wikipedia,  by Wednesday evening, the death toll had risen to 95. According to the site, it has been the deadliest natural disaster in the Valencian Community since the 1957 Valencia flood and the third-worst natural disaster in modern Spanish history. 

Criticism against the local government for disbanding the Valencia Emergency Unit (UVE)

According to the BBC, In south-eastern Spain, certain areas experienced over a year’s worth of rainfall within an eight-hour period. This is an example of an extreme weather event referred to as the Dana Phenomenon. 

This rain storm has sparked criticism toward Valencia’s regional government, which had disbanded the Valencia Emergency Unit (UVE) shortly after taking office in 2023. 

Rescue efforts continue across southern and eastern regions, though they face significant obstacles. Power outages from downed lines, collapsed phone networks, and impassable roads are making the search for several people still reported missing very difficult. 

According to The Guardian, Spain has declared three days of mourning,  as the weather alert level has been raised as well. 

High speed train derailed - Army called in to help

Near Málaga, a high-speed train derailed with nearly 300 people on board. No injuries were reported, according to Spanish authorities.

Power outages are widespread, and people are reportedly stranded on car and house rooftops.

Police and emergency services are working to evacuate people from flooded homes using helicopters. The Army’s rescue unit has been called in for reinforcement: over 1,000 troops have been mobilized to support rescue efforts across the affected regions.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged residents in a post on X to “stay cautious and avoid unnecessary travel.”

Some areas "imposssible" to reach with USAR teams

Rescue teams are still combing through the floodwater. 

Carlos Mazón, Valencia’s regional leader, noted that some areas remain "absolutely impossible" to reach. 

Chiva, a small town, reportedly received  nearly a year's worth of rainfall in a short period.

In response to the crisis, the German government has offered assistance to Spain and remains in direct contact with authorities in Madrid.