A number of bodies have already been recovered and more are still missing after torrential rain swept through parts of Spain overnight
At least 63 people have died and others are missing after flash floods swept through large areas of eastern and southern Spain, authorities have said.
It is the worst natural disaster to hit Spain in recent memory.
Footage from Valencia showed mud-coloured waters tearing through streets, with cars swept away and rail services disrupted.
A high-speed train with nearly 300 people on board derailed near Malaga, although rail authorities said no one was hurt.
The high-speed train service between Valencia city and Madrid was also interrupted as were several commuter lines.
The storm also unleashed a rare tornado and a freak hailstorm with ice the size of golf balls puncturing holes in cars and windows.
Valencia’s regional leader Carlos Mazon told reporters that some bodies had been found as rescue teams reached areas previously cut off by floods.
He said: “Unfortunately, we can confirm that some bodies have already been found, but out of respect for the families we are not going to give any more details.”
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said dozens of towns had been flooded and asked people to exercise “great caution” and avoid moving if possible.
He said: “For those who are looking for their loved ones, all of Spain feels your pain. Our priority is to help you. We are putting all the resources necessary so that we can recover from this tragedy.”
Relatives have been posting on social media and appealing on local television and radio to find their missing loved ones.
Spain’s national police have now set up a phone number to assist the relatives of those missing.
“Yesterday was the worst day of my life,” Ricardo Gabaldón, the mayor of Utiel, a town in Valencia, told national broadcaster RTVE. He said several people were still missing in his town.
“We were trapped like rats. Cars and trash containers were flowing down the streets. The water was rising to three meters,” he added.
Police and rescue services used helicopters to lift people from homes who were in danger of drowning.
Footage online shows a woman and her dog being pulled out of neck-high water surrounding a building by a rescue helicopter.
More than 1,000 soldiers from Spain’s emergency response units were deployed to the devastated areas.
According to Spain’s Meteorological Agency, a year’s worth of rainfall fell within eight hours.
The storm is expected to continue into Thursday as it heads north towards Barcelona where authorities have already issued weather alerts.
President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen said her thoughts are with the victims and families and that the EU is offering humanitarian support.
She said on X: “What we’re seeing in Spain is devastating. My thoughts are with the victims, their families and the rescue teams.
“The EU has already offered support. Copernicus has been activated. The #EUCivilProtection can be mobilised.”
Spain has experienced similar autumn storms in recent years, and the country has recovered somewhat from a severe drought this year due to rainfall. Scientists say that increased episodes of extreme weather are likely linked to climate change.
The Spanish government set up a crisis committee on Tuesday, the Palace of La Moncloa said.
It is chaired by Sanchez and coordinates the work of the Civil Guard, National Police, General Directorate of Civil Protection, and the Military Emergency Unit.
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