Spain flood death toll expected to rise as dozens remain missing

Spain is facing its worst flooding disaster in decades, with at least 95 confirmed dead and dozens still missing as rescue operations continue.

Torrential rains in eastern Spain triggered flash floods that devastated the Valencia province, sweeping away buildings, bridges, and cars and leaving towns submerged.

The catastrophic floods prompted Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to declare three days of national mourning.

In a national address, Sánchez expressed solidarity with the victims, pledging full recovery support and urging vigilance as extreme weather persists in some areas.

Officials fear the death toll could rise, with many still unaccounted for. In Valencia alone, 92 deaths have been recorded, with two more in Castilla-La Mancha and another in Málaga, where a 71-year-old British resident died in hospital after being rescued.

The Valencia region, heavily affected by the storms, experienced an entire year’s worth of rainfall within eight hours on Tuesday.

Rescue efforts, hampered by high water levels and damaged infrastructure, included helicopters airlifting stranded residents from car rooftops and balconies. Survivors in Valencia described the ordeal as “like a tsunami”.

In nearby Chiva, floodwaters rushed down highways, forcing many to abandon vehicles and seek refuge on bridges. Guillermo Serrano Pérez, 21, described the experience: “The water came down the highway like a tsunami, and we had to climb a bridge to survive.”

Criticism has emerged over delayed flood warnings. Spain’s civil protection agency issued an alert at 8:15 pm on Tuesday, nearly two hours after Chiva and surrounding towns had already experienced flooding.

Additionally, Valencia’s regional government has faced scrutiny for dismantling its emergency response unit.

The European Union has activated its Copernicus satellite system to aid coordination efforts, while neighboring countries have offered assistance.

Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles described the flooding as “an unprecedented phenomenon,” worsened by climate change, as scientists point out how global warming has intensified Spain’s seasonal “gota fría” storms.

Meteorologists warn that while rains have eased in Valencia, they are moving north-east toward Catalonia, where additional flood alerts have been issued.

Experts state that rising global temperatures are contributing to more frequent, severe rainfall, exacerbating natural weather events across the Mediterranean region.