Floods kill at least 95 people in Spain

Arab Weather - Local authorities announced on Wednesday that the violent floods that recently hit Spain, the most severe in three decades, claimed the lives of at least 95 people after heavy rains swept through the eastern region of Valencia on Tuesday, flooding roads and cities with water.

According to meteorologists, parts of Valencia received a year's worth of rain in just eight hours on Tuesday, causing traffic accidents on highways and flooding farmland in a region that is home to two-thirds of Spain's citrus production, one of the world's biggest exporters of the crop.

Television footage from the town of Otel showed rescuers using small boats to search for those trapped and rescue several people in the dark of night after the massive floods. Emergency teams are still working to reach the worst-hit areas.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez promised to rebuild damaged infrastructure, saying in a televised address: “To those who are still searching for their loved ones, all of Spain shares your pain and sorrow.” He added: “I reaffirm my commitment to the cities and villages affected by this disaster that together we will rebuild your streets, your squares and your bridges.”

Carlos Mazon, the governor of Valencia, one of Spain's most important agricultural regions, said some residents were still trapped in areas that were difficult to reach. Dozens of videos have been circulating on social media showing people trapped in floodwaters, while others have been forced to climb trees to escape the strong currents.

Due to the floods, trains to Madrid and Barcelona were cancelled, schools were closed and essential services were suspended in the worst-hit areas. The Meteorological Service also declared a state of maximum alert in Valencia, a major citrus-growing region, where rainfall in areas such as Torres and Otel reached around 200 mm.