Catastrophic Flooding in Valencia: 51 Dead, Hundreds Trapped

Valencia: Torrential rains in Spain's east Valencia region resulted in at least 51 fatalities, according to rescuers on Wednesday, as authorities rushed to the address this rare catastrophe.

Since the beginning of the week, heavy rainfall and strong winds have affected southern and eastern Spain, which led to flooding in both Valencia and the southern Andalusia region.

The regional emergency services reported that the "provisional death toll stands at 51," noting that the bodies are still being located and analyzed.

"Several hundred individuals" remained stuck on two highways in the area, said the region's fire service chief, Jose Miguel Basset.

Parts of the Valencia region are experiencing power cuts, with phone lines also disrupted, and some areas have been abandoned due to flooded roads, according to regional chief Carlos Mazon. An AFP reporter observed cars scattered and put on top of each other on roadways near the Mediterranean coastal city of Valencia after a mudslide.

Residents attempted to clear the mud from their homes using buckets and waded through waist-high water to rescue their belongings.

Maria Carmen, a resident of Valencia city, recounted to Spanish public broadcaster TVE that she climbed through her own car window and sought refuge on the roof of a van for many hours to escape the floodwaters.

King Felipe VI expressed his "devastation" over the news on twitter, offering "our heartfelt condolences" to the victims' families and thanking the emergency services for their "titanic" efforts.

The prime minister of neighboring Portugal, Luis Montenegro, conveyed his country's "greatest regret" and "solidarity with all the Spanish people" in a message on twitter, vowing "all necessary assistance."

'Unprecedented phenomenon'

Pilar Bernabe, the central government's representative in the Valencia region, announced that emergency military units from various regions are being positioned to support the rescue efforts.

Defense Minister Margarita Robles informed the press that "over a thousand troops," with helicopters, are being sent to "an unprecedented phenomenon."

Emergency services in the Valencia region saved nearly 200 people overnight who were sheltered in fire stations, Basset stated.

Videos captured torrents of rain-water rushing through streets on Tuesday, sweeping away vehicles, while rail and air transport faced many disruptions.

The Spanish parliament observed one minute of silence on Wednesday to honor the victims before a typically lively session of government questions.

This flood toll marks the deadliest in Spain since August 1996, when 86 people lost their lives in the northeastern region of Aragon, near the Pyrenees mountains which has its border towards France.

Meteorologists ascribed the storm to cold air moving over warm Mediterranean waters, which generated intense rain clouds.

Rainfall is predicted to be continued at least until Thursday.

Scientists cautioned that extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and storms, are getting intense due to human-induced climate change.

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