Severe storm hits Spain: at least 50 dead

Dozens of people have died as heavy rains triggered flooding across much of Spain. Spanish news agency Europapress cited local government sources as saying that at least 51 people died in Valencia in the Mediterranean region alone. According to El Pais, dozens of people are still missing there.

Rescue workers are still on duty in many places. The situation is particularly bad in the Mediterranean regions of Andalusia, Murcia and Valencia, which are very popular with holidaymakers. Streets, houses and fields were flooded in many places, and cars and trees were swept away by water masses. In some areas, residents were trapped in their homes and making emergency calls via social media, The Nation reported.

Emergency services in the hardest-hit Mediterranean region of Valencia are working to reach the sites. José Miguel Basset of the Valencia provincial fire department told the Europapress news agency that many things could only be done by helicopter due to flooding or blocked roads.

Valencian Prime Minister Carlos Masson called on residents to move to higher ground. At least six people were also missing in the city of Albacete in the neighboring Castile-La Mancha region, according to media reports.

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spanish storm

Flooding in Valencia and other parts of Spain.

Those: Keystone/Alberto Saez

The area of ​​rainfall that has been widely reported for several days is expected to move northeastward today.

However, severe weather warnings remain in effect for much of the country. Weather service Aemet said the situation across Spain would not fully ease until Thursday.

golf ball sized hail

In addition to the heavy rain, there was also hail and strong winds. In the Andalusian coastal town of El Ejido, not far from Almeria, hailstorms hit particularly hard on Tuesday night, causing extensive damage to fields and hundreds of vehicles. “The hailstones were as big as golf balls,” farmer Mercedes González (46) told El Pais newspaper. “It seems like the end of the world.”

Cars swept away in Valencia. Image: trapezoid

In many places in southern and eastern Spain, highways and rural roads must be closed. Air and rail traffic are also affected. Many schools and universities have canceled classes. An AVE high-speed train from Malaga to Madrid derailed near the city of Alora shortly after departure due to a rock slide with 291 passengers on board. Spanish state railway company Renfe said no one was injured.

Cleaning in Mallorca. Image: trapezoid

Storms have already hit Mallorca and other Balearic Islands on Monday. Although a yellow severe weather warning remains in effect for some areas, including Mallorca, the situation there has now calmed down again. (cma/sda/dpa)

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