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The death toll from historic flash floods in eastern Spain reached at least 205 people on Friday, with many more believed missing as shock transformed into anger, frustration, and solidarity among survivors. Spanish emergency services reported that 202 of the victims were from the Valencia region alone, with more rain forecast in the coming days.
The flooding, which struck Tuesday and Wednesday, left communities grappling with destruction reminiscent of a tsunami. Streets remained blocked by wrecked vehicles and debris, trapping residents in their homes. Some areas were still without electricity, running water, or reliable phone service.
"It's a disaster, and there is very little help," said Emilio Cuartero, a resident of Masanasa. "We need machinery, cranes, so that the sites can be accessed. We need a lot of help, including food and water."
In Chiva, residents worked to clear mud-filled streets after the town received more rain in eight hours than in the past 20 months. Mayor Amparo Fort told RNE radio that "entire houses have disappeared," and authorities are still searching for those who may be trapped in submerged vehicles or flooded garages.
So far, 205 bodies have been recovered—202 in Valencia, two in Castilla La Mancha, and one in Andalusia. Search efforts continue for missing individuals, many of whom are feared to be trapped under rubble or within their homes.
Satellite images captured the scale of the flooding, showing the transformation of Valencia into a muddy landscape. Maps from Spain's National Meteorological Agency indicated some areas west of the city received over 325 millimeters (more than a foot) of rain on October 29 alone.
With more storms expected, alerts were issued for heavy rain in Tarragona, Catalonia, and parts of the Balearic Islands.
The disaster has sparked a wave of local solidarity, with residents from unaffected areas bringing supplies to those in need. Volunteers, alongside organizations like the Red Cross, are working to distribute food and aid, while survivors continue the arduous task of clearing mud from homes and streets.
"We are organizing ourselves, but we are running out of everything," said Juan Ramón Adsuara, mayor of Alfafar, one of the hardest-hit towns. "There are people living with corpses at home. It's very sad."
As recovery efforts unfold, social media has become a platform for sharing needs and mobilizing assistance, with initiatives like Suport Mutu connecting requests for help with those willing to provide it.
Experts link this week's unprecedented flooding to climate change, which has intensified weather patterns across Spain. A recent analysis suggests human-induced climate change has doubled the likelihood of such extreme weather events. The region has been suffering from a prolonged drought, exacerbating the flooding's impact as the dry ground struggled to absorb the sudden deluge.
[Information sourced from CBS News]
