Spain: More than 60 killed in the storms

The public broadcaster TVE and the Spanish newspaper El Pais previously reported that several people were still missing. According to reports received on Monday morning, six missing people were searched for in the inland city of Albacete in the Castile-La Mancha region alone.

Regional government head Carlos Mazón said in a press conference on Wednesday that some people were still trapped in inaccessible places. Due to floods or closed roads, many things can only be done by helicopter, José Miguel Basset, of the Valencia Province Fire Department, told Europapress news agency. Emergency services urged people to stay at home.

“Historical storm”

Videos shared on online platforms overnight showed people trapped by the floods. Some climbed trees to avoid being swept away by the water.

Particularly affected by storms are the Mediterranean regions of Andalusia, Murcia and Valencia, which are very popular with holidaymakers. In many places, streets, houses and fields were flooded, and cars and trees were swept away.

The Aemet weather service in Valencia spoke of a “historic storm” in its initial assessment. It was the worst “cold subsidence” (“gota fria”) this century in the Valencia region, Emmett wrote about extreme fluctuations in sea and air temperatures, occurring when the first lows of the Atlantic Ocean push over the warm Mediterranean with cold air. And moist.

Reports of people trapped

El Pais newspaper reported that residents in some areas locked themselves in their homes and made emergency calls on social media networks. In Albacete, 30 people had to spend the night in an emergency shelter because their homes were flooded, TVE reported. In Al Daya, many people are said to be trapped in a shopping mall. Rescue work continued in many places.

The rain, which has been widely reported for days, is expected to move to the northeast on Wednesday. However, a severe weather warning remains in effect for large parts of the country. The Aemet weather service said the situation across Spain would not fully improve again until Thursday.

Sanchez: “Be very careful”

In addition to heavy rain, there was also hail and strong winds. In the Andalusian coastal town of El Ejido, not far from Almería, where heavy snow fell on Tuesday night, fields and hundreds of vehicles were severely damaged. “The hailstones were the size of golf balls,” farmer Mercedes Gonzalez told El Pais newspaper. “It seemed like the end of the world.”

“I am following with concern the reports of missing persons and the damage caused by the storm in the past few hours,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said via the electronic service “Be very careful and avoid unnecessary travel.” The government in Madrid formed a crisis team that met for the first time late Tuesday evening and sent a military unit specialized in rescue operations to Valencia.

The Spanish Parliament in Madrid held a minute of silence on Wednesday. King Felipe VI wished all those affected “strength, courage and all necessary assistance.”

Roads were closed and flights were cancelled

In many places in southern and eastern Spain, highways and country roads had to be closed. Air and railway traffic was also affected. National railway company ADIF said that all train services in the Valencia region have been suspended until the situation returns to normal. In addition, high-speed train connections between Madrid and Valencia will be canceled until “at least” 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

Due to a rockslide, a high-speed AVE train traveling from Malaga to Madrid with 291 passengers derailed near the municipality of Alora shortly after the start of the journey. Spanish railway company Renfe said there were no casualties.

Classes have been canceled in many places

Classes were canceled in many schools and universities. In the Valencia region, all public sector employees can stay home today if they have problems getting to their workplace, Europapers reported. The container port of Valencia wrote on platform X that it would remain closed until at least 2 p.m.

The storm, accompanied by heavy rain, had already passed over Mallorca and the other Balearic Islands on Monday. The situation there has now calmed down again, although a yellow severe weather warning remains in force in some areas, including Mallorca.