Spain has deployed an additional 10,000 military and police personnel to the eastern region of Valencia following devastating floods that have claimed more than 200 lives, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Saturday.
The catastrophic flooding, which is now Spain’s deadliest natural disaster in recent history, has resulted in 205 confirmed deaths. Of these, 202 were in Valencia, with two in Castilla-La Mancha and one in Andalusia. Search efforts continue for more victims as rescuers comb through waterlogged vehicles and buildings, four days after torrential downpours swept the region.
Currently, about 2,000 soldiers and nearly 4,300 members of law enforcement, including Civil Guard gendarmes and national police, are engaged in rescue and relief operations. To date, the Civil Guard has performed approximately 4,500 rescues.
Spain’s severe flooding follows a prolonged drought that left the ground unable to absorb the heavy rainfall, exacerbating the disaster. This tragedy surpasses the infamous 1996 Biescas flood, which claimed 87 lives when a campsite was swept away.
Satellite images reveal the extent of the devastation, with parts of Valencia transformed from a bustling cityscape to a muddy expanse. The V-33 highway, a major thoroughfare, is now buried under thick, brown mud.
Emilio Cuartero, a resident of Massanassa near Valencia, expressed frustration: “The situation is unbelievable. It's a disaster and there is very little help. We need machinery, cranes, so that the sites can be accessed. We need a lot of help, and bread and water.”
Thousands of volunteers are working tirelessly to clear the mud-choked streets, homes, and businesses in the most affected areas.
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