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Dozens killed as Spanish region hit by year's worth of rain in eight hours Spain battles deadliest flooding disaster in decades as death toll rises
(about 3 hours later)
Hailstorms and floods sweep through parts of SpainHailstorms and floods sweep through parts of Spain
At least 95 people are known to have died after torrential rain caused devastating flash floods in south-eastern Spain. Spain is enduring its worst flooding disaster in decades with at least 95 people dead and dozens more missing after huge rains swept the eastern province of Valenica and beyond.
In the town of Chiva near Valencia more than a year's worth of rain fell in just eight hours and local officials say it is "impossible" to put a final figure on the number of people who have perished. Torrential rain on Tuesday triggered flash floods which swept away bridges and buildings and forced people to climb onto roofs or cling to trees to survive.
Footage uploaded to social media shows floodwaters causing chaos in the wider region, knocking down bridges and dragging cars through the streets. Other video appears to show people clinging to trees to avoid being swept away. President Pedro Sánchez has declared three days of national mourning as the wild conditions continue, restricting some rescue efforts.
Much of the country has been badly hit by heavy rain and hailstorms, triggering rapid flooding across multiple areas. The death toll is feared to climb as "many people are still missing," the government says.
LIVE UPDATES - Latest news and analysis on Spain flash floods AS IT HAPPENED - Coverage of Spain flash floods
'It was like a tsunami': Spaniards recount horror of deadly floods'It was like a tsunami': Spaniards recount horror of deadly floods
Timing of Spain flood alert under scrutiny as blame game ragesTiming of Spain flood alert under scrutiny as blame game rages
Scientists say climate change made Spanish floods worseScientists say climate change made Spanish floods worse
More than 1,000 troops are being deployed to help with the rescue operation, with hundreds of drivers reported trapped on motorways and scores of people unaccounted for. In his national address on Wednesday, President Sanchez urged citizens to remain vigilant and pledged a full recovery, telling victims: “The whole of Spain weeps with you… we won’t abandon you”.
Spain's King Felipe VI said he was "devastated" by the floods, and sent his "heartfelt condolences" to the families of the victims. His government is yet to make an explicit link between the "unprecedented" extreme weather and climate change but scientists tell the BBC it is clear that global temperature rise made the downpours worse.
Radio and TV stations have reportedly been receiving hundreds of calls for help from people trapped in flooded areas or searching for loved ones, as emergency services struggle to reach some areas. One of the first-hit towns near Valencia, Chiva, reported one year's worth of rainfall on Tuesday in just a period of eight hours according to national weather agency Aemet.
In Valencia, one woman told of terrifying scenes as motorway drivers realised a torrent of water was heading towards them and formed a human chain to escape along a raised central reservation. As the rain eased in the country's central-east on Wednesday, weather officials warned the rains were moving north-east to the Catalonia region. Weather warnings have also been issued across several other parts of the country, urging people to brace for floods and take shelter.
As Spanish army and emergency crews rushed to carry out rescues on Wednesday morning- including winching people to safety from balconies and car rooftops- survivors in Valencia recounted the horror of the floods on Tuesday night.
Sudden surges turned streets and roads into rivers- catching many motorists unaware.
Guillermo Serrano Pérez, 21, from Paiporta near Valencia, said the water had rushed down a highway “like a tsunami” forcing him and his parents to abandon their car and climb onto a bridge to survive.
The churning floodwaters swept away hundreds of cars in Valencia
Another witness recounted a scene when motorway drivers realised a torrent of water was heading towards them and formed a human chain to escape along a raised central reservation.
“Thank goodness no one slipped because if anyone had fallen, the current would have dragged them away,” Patricia Rodriguez, 45, told El País newspaper.“Thank goodness no one slipped because if anyone had fallen, the current would have dragged them away,” Patricia Rodriguez, 45, told El País newspaper.
One resident of La Torre told the BBC some of his friends had lost their homes, and on Tuesday night he "saw cars floating in the water" and the tides "breaking through some walls."
Meanwhile the mayor of Horno de Alcedo, a town just outside Valencia, told BBC Newshour how the water levels rose by over a metre in just a matter of minutes.
"The currents were so quick – and we called the emergency services who started rescuing some people who had water up to their necks", Consuelo Tarazon said.
BBC Weather's Matt Taylor examines what caused the shock weather eventBBC Weather's Matt Taylor examines what caused the shock weather event
Chiva was among the first to experience the fury of the flash floods. Local media reported that by 18:00 (17:00 GMT) on Tuesday the town's streets had turned into rivers, with cars, street lamps and benches being swept along with the force of the water. There are widespread accusations in Spain that in many cases, disaster relief authorities were too slow to act with warnings, meaning people couldn't get off roads or seek higher ground.
The civil protection did not send a warning to residents of the Valencia region until over two hours later. The civil protection agency, deployed during national disasters, did not issue an alert until 20:15pm Tuesday evening local time – but by then Chiva and several other towns had already been flooded for at least two hours.
Many are now questioning the timing of that warning, saying that it arrived too late for people to get off the roads or seek refuge on the higher floors of their homes. Valencia’s regional government has also been forced to defend its decision to scrap a Valencia Emergency Unit, which had been set up by the previous government to natural disasters such as flooding and wildfires.
Spain's defence minister Margarita Robles told reporters that the flooding across the region was "an unprecedented phenomenon". Spain deployed more than 1,000 troops to help with rescue efforts on Wednesday but many crews remain cut-off from towns by flooded roads and downed communication and power lines.
She added: "Yesterday, during the night, the emergency services were in the area, but the avalanche of water was tremendous." The European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said it had activated its Copernicus satellite system to help coordinate Spanish rescue teams. Other European neighbours have also offered to send reinforcements.
Police have issued an emergency hotline and asked people to phone 9006 5112 to report people who are missing. Spain's defence minister Margarita Robles had said earlier on Wednesday the flooding across the region was "an unprecedented phenomenon".
"Practically all the main roads have been cut off and the secondary roads as well," a government representative for the region, Pilar Bernabe said.
"Not going out is not a mere recommendation, it is a necessity to guarantee the safety of the people who are stranded and the people who have to go to rescue others."
"If (emergency services) have not arrived it's not due to a lack of means but a problem of access," the regional leader of Valenica, Carlos Mazon, told a press conference, adding that reaching certain areas was "absolutely impossible".
Spanish weather service AEMET reported that Chiva, in the Valencia region, recorded 491mm of rain in just eight hours on Tuesday - the equivalent to a year's worth of rain.
It has declared a red alert in the Valencia region and the second-highest level of alert in parts of Andalusia.
The floods have caused transport disruption with several flights due to land in Valencia diverted to other cities and others cancelled. All train services are suspended in the Valencia region, the national rail infrastructure operator ADIF said.
How climate change worsens heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and floods
Valencia city hall said all schools and sporting events were suspended on Wednesday, and parks will stay closed.
Many factors contribute to flooding, but a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely.Many factors contribute to flooding, but a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely.
Weather researchers have identified the likely main cause of the intense rainfall as a “gota fria” – a natural weather event that hits Spain in autumn and winter where cold air descends on warmer waters over the Mediterranean.
However the increase in global temperatures had led to the clouds carrying more rain, scientists told the BBC.
“With every fraction of a degree of fossil fuel warming, the atmosphere can hold more moisture, leading to heavier bursts of rainfall,” said Dr Friederike Otto, from Imperial College London, who leads an international group of scientists who try to understand the role that warming plays in these type of events.
“No doubt about it, these explosive downpours were intensified by climate change,”
The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions.The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions.
Additional reporting by BBC Weather's Matt Taylor.
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