At least 95 dead in Spain: thousands of people trapped in cars, trains and shopping centres

After a catastrophic storm that killed at least 95 people, the search for bodies, missing people and people cut off from the outside world continues throughout the night in Spain. “But because of the darkness, many activities have been suspended until dawn,” the head of the Spanish Red Cross’s emergency department, Inigo Vela, told state television station RTVE in the evening.

According to Spanish media reports, among the dead were four children and at least six elderly people in a nursing home. It is feared that the number of victims will continue to rise. The official total number of missing people was not available. Thousands of people who were trapped in vehicles, homes and villages also needed assistance.

92 of 95 deaths in Valencia

The situation is particularly bad in the Valencia region, which is very popular with holidaymakers, where 92 of the 95 deaths confirmed so far have been recovered. Other regions on the Mediterranean were also severely affected such as Andalusia and Murcia as well as Castile-La Mancha. The central government in Madrid declared three days of national mourning, starting Thursday. It also promised those affected rapid assistance in reconstruction.

During the night, many highways and rural roads remained impassable. Railway traffic was also greatly affected. About 115,000 families were cut off from electricity, and there are still problems with cell phone communications.

People trapped in trains, offices and shopping malls

A spokesman for the Civil Guard police unit estimated in the evening that 1,200 people were still trapped in cars, buses or trucks on the A3 and A7 motorways. But it was said that there were also many who did not want to leave their cars. According to this, 5,000 vehicles – some abandoned by drivers and passengers – were stuck in Valencia.

Thousands of people have also been trapped in trains, homes, offices, schools and shopping malls since Tuesday evening. Others took refuge on the roofs of cars or houses. They were transported to safety on Wednesday by thousands of members of the army, civil service, fire brigade and police, some using helicopters and boats.

Rivers burst their banks during historic rainfall

What caused the tragedy? Because of the extremely heavy rainfall – in some places as much rain fell in one day as in a year – more and more rivers burst their banks on Tuesday. The Emmett Weather Service spoke of a “historic storm,” the worst of its kind this century in the Valencia region.

Soon, countless streets turned into raging torrents. Buildings and fields were flooded. Roads, houses and small bridges collapsed. The water washed away trees, containers, cars, trucks, and people like toys. The vehicles were pushed into each other and stacked in piles of scrap metal.

“I held her hand, but the current was so strong and fast that we were separated and swept away.”

Survivor

Survivors reported horrific experiences. A 57-year-old man told El Pais newspaper that he took refuge in a construction trailer in Bayporta, near the capital of Valencia province, and from there he wanted to help several people in the water. “I caught them with my hands, but the current was so rough and fast that we were separated and swept away by the tide.”

Searching for guilt: The “brutal consequences” are unexpected

Although the full extent of the tragedy is not yet known and search and rescue work will continue for a long time, controversy has already begun in Spain about the possible perpetrators. There have been debates in the media and on the Internet about whether authorities should have warned citizens earlier or better. There were similar criticisms from several city council presidents. After all, we know that the weather phenomenon “dana” or “haildrop” is dangerous. It occurs frequently in southern and eastern Spain at the beginning of autumn, when the slopes of the first Atlantic lowlands rush with cool, moist air over the warm Mediterranean Sea.

The regional government and experts rejected these allegations. Respected meteorologist Francisco Martin León told the Europa Press news agency that one cannot predict such “brutal consequences” because they depend on various factors. The Aemet Weather Service provided adequate and timely information with severe weather warnings of levels three (yellow), two (orange) and one (red).

Better weather on Thursday

The weather is expected to improve on Thursday. Severe weather warnings remain in effect for parts of Andalusia and Extremadura in the west and parts of Catalonia in the northeast of the country. Expected amounts of precipitation are limited. The disaster is far from over, as authorities have repeatedly warned.