Violent floods in Spain, several bodies found

Emergency services have found several bodies in the Valencia region in eastern Spain, where torrential rains caused flooding, the head of the regional government announced on Wednesday.

We can confirm that some bodies have already been foundCarlos Mazon told the media, adding that authorities could not give more details until the families had been informed.

Authorities said Tuesday that seven people were missing, including one in Alcudia in the Valencia region and six in the town of Letur, in the neighboring province of Albacete (Castile-La Mancha region), where a flood sudden flood invaded the streets, swept away cars and flooded buildings, according to images broadcast by Spanish television channels.

Emergency services, supported by drones, are working all night to search for the missing in Letur, the central government delegate in Castile-La Macha, Milagros Tolon, told public television TVE.

The priority is to find missing peopleshe added.

Police in the town of L’Alcudia, in the eastern region of Valencia, said they were searching for a truck driver who had been missing since Tuesday afternoon.

The central government has set up a crisis unit, which met for the first time on Tuesday evening.

I am following with concern the reports of missing people and the damage caused by the storm in recent hourswrote Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on X, inviting the population to follow the advice of the authorities. Be very careful and avoid unnecessary travelhe added.

Schools closed, flights diverted

Valencia town hall announced that all schools would remain closed on Wednesday, as would public gardens, and that all sporting events were canceled.

Twelve flights due to land at Valencia airport were diverted to other cities in Spain due to heavy rain and strong winds, Spanish airport operator Aena said.

Ten other flights scheduled to depart or arrive at the airport were canceled.

National rail infrastructure operator Adif said it had suspended high-speed trains between Madrid and Valencia due to the effects of the storm on main points of the rail network.

A high-speed train carrying 276 passengers derailed in the southern region of Andalusia, but no one was injured, the regional government said in a statement.

Emergency services rescued dozens of people in Alora, Andalusia, some by helicopter, after a river overflowed.

Red alert

National weather agency Aemet declared a red alert in the Valencia region and the second highest alert level in parts of Andalusia.

Several roads were cut in both regions due to flooding.

The Valencia region and the Spanish Mediterranean coast in general regularly experience, in autumn, the meteorological phenomenon of cold drop (the cold drop), an isolated high-altitude depression that causes sudden and extremely heavy rains that sometimes last for several days.

Scientists warn that extreme weather events such as heatwaves and storms are becoming more intense due to climate change.