Flood crisis: Spain reels from deadly storms and devastation
At least 64 people have died due to the violent floods that swept across southern and eastern Spain on Tuesday, according to information from local authorities and media reports.
Storms brought on by a cold front moving across southern and eastern Spain have caused extensive damage and transformed city streets into raging torrents, particularly in the provinces of Valencia, Albacete, and Malaga.
Public transport in Valencia came to a standstill – train services were cancelled, buses stopped, the metro ceased functioning, and flights rerouted or cancelled. In Alora, Malaga, residents were left without drinking water after the swollen Guadalhorce River damaged the water supply network.
The company Iberdrola reported that around 150,000 of its customers in the province of Valencia were left without electricity, and significant damage was observed at many petrol stations. Farmers in Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, and Valencia estimate that the crop losses will be substantial, amounting to millions of euros.
"All of Spain cries with you," said Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday. Immediately upon returning from India, the politician convened the government crisis committee and promised to provide the affected areas with "all necessary measures for as long as required."
Other Spanish autonomous communities, such as Aragon, Galicia, and Cantabria, are offering support for regions affected by the disaster. This includes helicopters, drones, fire engines, pumps, and personnel.
Germany and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, have also pledged assistance, including activating the Copernicus satellite system to help coordinate rescue efforts. Earlier, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, had expressed readiness to assist.
The King of Spain, Felipe VI, expressed condolences to the victims' families, emphasising that he and the Queen support all those affected by the tragedy. The sporting community, including Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid and local football clubs from Valencia, also showed solidarity with the victims.
Flooding in Spain. Storms to continue until Thursday
Over 1,000 soldiers are participating in the rescue operation, with additional units deployed to Letur in Albacete, where one of the two flood victims in Castilla-La Mancha was found.
Meteorological services predict that the storms will continue until Thursday – Wednesday’s warnings included the northeastern part of the country, including Catalonia, where a red alert was issued, and Aragon, where floods have begun.
