The Spanish government declared three days of official mourning on Wednesday as the death toll from devastating flash floods rose to 72 in the eastern region of Valencia and the neighbouring provinces of Albacete and Cuenca.
Exceptionally heavy rainfall, totaling over 400 litres per square meter, flooded parts of Valencia and the provinces of Albacete and Cuenca within just a few hours between Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.
TV footage showed the heaviest downpour since September 1966, causing widespread flooding that inundated streets, swept away cars, burst riverbanks, and submerged a bridge over the River Magro.
Rapidly rising waters left many people trapped in their cars, with fears that some elderly residents in single-story homes may have been unable to escape.
More than 60 roads have been closed due to flooding, including major highways along the eastern coast and between Madrid and Valencia. Local train services have been halted, and the high-speed rail connection between Valencia and the capital is also suspended.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will visit the affected regions on Thursday, the government said in an official communiqué.
Sanchez convened an emergency cabinet meeting Wednesday morning and made a formal declaration at midday, pledging full support from his government to the families of flood victims.
"Our absolute priority is to help you," Sanchez said, emphasizing that public administrations are coordinating all available resources and efforts to assist victims in rebuilding their homes and lives as swiftly as possible.
King Felipe VI also sent a message, expressing his "sadness and regret" for the tragedy.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union (EU) has activated the Copernicus satellite system to aid in coordinating rescue efforts. European Council President Charles Michel also confirmed that the EU stands ready to provide additional support.
Around 1,000 members of the Spanish Military's Emergency Response United (UME) have been deployed to the affected areas, assisting with rescue and clean-up efforts. However, operations have been hampered by power outages and collapsed phone networks in many areas.
The Spanish government delegate for Valencia, Pilar Bernabe, urged citizens to avoid dangerous roads in the provinces of Valencia and neighbouring Castellon. "There are still people trapped, and we need to support the emergency services," she said.
Meteorologists attribute the torrential rain to a phenomenon known as "isolated high-altitude depression," or DANA in Spanish, which occurs when a cold air front crosses the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea. While its impacts are often localized, similar events wreaked havoc in 1966 and 1957, with the River Turia overflowing and devastating the city of Valencia.
