The country was under a severe weather alert for Storm Dana, which warned of flash flooding and landslides
Spanish authorities have reported multiple casualties after flash floods swept away cars, transformed village streets into rivers and disrupted rail lines and highways. The country was on high alert due to Storm Dana, which brought with it warnings of flash flooding and landslides.
Footage captured on smartphones and broadcast on Spain’s national broadcaster RTVE showed the terrifying speed of the floodwaters, carrying away vehicles and rising several feet into the lower levels of houses. Carlos Mazon, the regional president of eastern Valencia, stated that it was too early to confirm the exact number of fatalities, as many people were still unaccounted for.
This statement came after Spanish national broadcaster RTVE reported that 13 bodies had been recovered in Valencia, citing the Civil Guard. However, the Civil Guard did not immediately respond to calls from The Associated Press.
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Rainstorms on Tuesday resulted in widespread flooding across southern and eastern Spain. AEMET, the country’s state weather agency, issued a red alert for the eastern Valencia region and a second-highest level of alert for parts of Andalusia in the south.
A high-speed train carrying nearly 300 passengers derailed near Malaga, but rail authorities confirmed there were no injuries. High-speed train services between Valencia city and Madrid were disrupted, along with several commuter lines, reports the Manchester Evening News.
According to Spain’s national weather service, AEMET, storms are expected to persist until Thursday. Valencia is predicted to be the hardest hit by the storm, with forecasts suggesting more than 3.5 inches (90mm) of rainfall in less than an hour, or 180 mm in less than 12 hours.
