Several bodies found as flash floods sweep cars through streets in Spain
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Several bodies have been found in Spain’s Valencia region after flash floods struck eastern and southern parts of the country.
Torrential rains caused by a cold front flooded roads and towns on Tuesday, resulting in cars being swept through streets, a train being derailed and damaged houses and buildings.
The exact number of people killed has not been disclosed by authorities in Valencia.
Cars are swept away by the water in Alora, Malaga province. Pic: AP
Pic: AP
Earlier, the national government office for the Castilla La Mancha region told radio channel Cadena Ser that six people in the region were missing.
In Letur, near the Sierra de Segura, thirty people were trapped after the river running through the town burst its banks.
Dozens of videos shared on social media appeared to show people trapped in floodwaters, several of them hanging on to trees to avoid being swept away. Authorities used helicopters to rescue some residents from their homes.
Other videos shared by Spanish broadcasters showed floodwater rising into the lower levels of homes and even carrying cars through the street.
Radio and TV stations received hundreds of calls for help from people trapped in flooded areas or searching for loved ones, as emergency services were unable to reach all affected locations.
‘It was mayhem’
A British couple told Sky News they had been stuck in their car for almost 10 hours.
Vitalij Farafonov and his wife, who are originally from the Midlands but now live in Luxembourg, were visiting Valencia on a yoga retreat when they were diverted by police from a motorway at around 8pm last night.
He said: “It was mayhem as we counted nine or 10 overturned lorries on a half mile stretch of the motorway.
“We’ve never seen anything like it.”
Mr Farafonov, whose four children are safe in Barcelona with relatives, said the couple were stuck “on a random rural road in between what were beautiful orange groves”.
“We can finally see flashing blue lights so people do know where we are,” he added. “As I say, we are the lucky ones.”
Emergency workers help an elderly lady in Letur. Pic: Europa Press via AP
Pic: Reuters
Pic: AP
Pic: AP
Transport was severely affected by the flooding.
A high-speed train with almost 300 people on board was derailed near Malaga, but authorities said no one was hurt.
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Rail lines elsewhere were also disrupted.
Storms are forecast to continue until Thursday, according to the country’s weather service.
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Spain has experienced similar autumn storms in recent years.
Scientists have warned that increased episodes of extreme weather, like flash floods, or the wildfires seen elsewhere in Europe in the summer, are likely linked to human-driven climate change.
Meteorologists believe the warming of the Mediterranean, which increases water evaporation, plays a key role in making torrential rains more severe.
