Unprecedented Flood Death Toll in Spain Reaches Over 150

The central government and the Valencia regional government, located on the eastern coast of Spain, announced that the death toll from the devastating floods in recent days has risen to at least 158. The toll was reported to be around 100 by the end of Wednesday, but with ongoing search operations and more accurate data collection on Thursday, November 1, it increased. According to the Spanish Civil Protection and Emergency Management Agency, the death toll is likely to rise. This flooding, caused by heavy and unprecedented rainfall on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, is the largest natural disaster in Spain in the last century. The number of missing persons is still unclear, and the search for victims in vehicles swept away by the flood and homes submerged continues. Oscar Puente, the Spanish Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "Unfortunately, the bodies of many victims have been found in vehicles." The extent and severity of the destruction, particularly in the Valencia region, are comparable to the heavy damages left by hurricanes or tsunamis. The flood has swept away a large number of vehicles and piled them up. In many villages and small towns in the Valencia region, homes have been damaged, bridges destroyed, and agricultural fields submerged. The death toll in the Valencia region alone has been reported to be over 100. Many of the victims drowned while trying to navigate or escape through the narrow streets of villages and towns, or lost their lives in vehicles swept away by the flood. At least 95 people have died due to the rainfall and flooding in Spain, and dozens are missing. Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, who visited the crisis management headquarters in Valencia yesterday, emphasized on Thursday that the main priority is currently to find victims and assist families who have lost their loved ones. The Spanish Civil Protection and Emergency Management Agency announced on Wednesday evening that around 70 people trapped on rooftops or inside vehicles had been rescued in aerial operations. The Spanish government declared three days of national mourning on Wednesday and stated that all government resources and emergency services from other regions of the country would be dedicated to addressing this crisis. The flat and low-lying plains around the city of Valencia have been more affected than other areas. For example, in a small town called Paiporta with a population of about 25,000, 62 people have lost their lives. The unprecedented rainfall and strong winds were not limited to the Valencia region, and several people have also died and an unspecified number are missing in neighboring areas in eastern and southeastern Spain. Train services to and from major cities in the east and southeast, including Valencia and Malaga, have been halted, and the Ministry of Transport announced that the extent of the damages in parts of the high-speed train routes is such that repairs may take two weeks. Preliminary assessments indicate that the material and financial damages from this flood will reach tens of billions of euros. In addition to homes and infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and railways, a large portion of agricultural land in this part of Spain, known for its diverse agricultural production and referred to as the greenhouse of Europe, has either been submerged or damaged due to heavy rainfall. Heavy rainfall continued on Thursday morning, particularly in northeastern Spain, and the meteorological agency maintained a red alert for several other areas on the eastern coast and a few small areas in the south of the country. Sudden and heavy rains in the autumn, known locally as "gota fría" (cold drop), are not unprecedented on the eastern coasts of Spain. However, scientists believe that due to the effects of global warming and rising sea temperatures, including the Mediterranean Sea, the amount of moisture that accumulates in the air during this season is significantly greater than in the past, resulting in increased volume and intensity of rainfall.