Death toll from flash floods in Spain has risen to at least 63

Madrid: Disastrous floods triggered by torrential rain in Spain's eastern Valencia region have left at least 63 people dead, rescue services said Wednesday.

Heavy rain and fierce winds have lashed southern and eastern Spain since the beginning of the week, sparking deadly floods in Valencia and the southern Andalusia region.

The "provisional number of dead is at 51 people", the regional emergency services wrote on X. Bodies were still being recovered and identified, they added.

Parts of the Valencia region are without power with phone lines also down, and some places were cut off by flooded roads, regional chief Carlos Mazon told reporters.

Footage showed torrents of water gushing through streets Tuesday washing away cars, while rail and air transport was severely disrupted. The Spanish parliament held a minute's silence on Wednesday in honour of the victims before an usually raucous session of questions to the government.

Police and rescue services launched efforts to airlift individuals in immediate danger from their homes and cars, using helicopters to reach those at risk of drowning. Spain’s emergency army brigade was also deployed to assist in the rescue operations.

The Spanish national weather service has forecasted continued storms through Thursday, as the nation endures yet another series of extreme autumn storms.

Although recent rainfall has helped mitigate the country’s prolonged drought, scientists warn that such intense weather events are increasingly likely to be connected to climate change.

AFP