Massive flooding in Spain kills dozens, leaves path of destruction

Oct 30

Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer)

Catastrophic flooding in Spain washed out towns and turned streets into deadly rivers. Authorities said the flash flooding killed at least 95 people across the southeastern part of the country and the death toll is expected to rise.

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Rainstorms pounded towns on Tuesday, Oct. 29, into Wednesday, Oct. 30. The rain prompted water rescues during reportedly the worst flooding the country has seen in decades.

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Helicopter crews lifted people to safety and first responders used rubber boats to reach some drivers trapped in their vehicles. In the aftermath of the rains, dozens of cars were left strewn and piled on one another.

Rescue and recovery efforts are underway with the Spanish government mobilizing 1,100 soldiers to help with search-and-rescue missions. Spain’s central government has also set up a crisis committee to organize life-saving efforts.

Meanwhile, the torrential rain disrupted transportation including buses, trains and some flights. Officials said flights have resumed on Wednesday, Oct. 30, but warned that some high-speed rail operations could take days to restore.

Additionally, officials say thousands of people still remain without power due to downed powerlines, trees and debris.

Spain’s national weather service reported it rained more in eight hours in the town of Valencia than it had in the past 20 months, calling the washout “extraordinary.”

Spain’s government has declared three days of mourning for the devastating natural disaster. The period of mourning starts on Thursday, Oct. 31.

Tags: Climate Change, Death, Europe, Extreme weather, flooding, natural disaster, Severe Weather, Spain

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

CATASTROPHIC FLOODING IN SPAIN WASHED OUT TOWNS AND TURNED STREETS INTO DEADLY RIVERS.

THE FLASH FLOODING KILLING AT LEAST 95 PEOPLE ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY WITH THE DEATH TOLL EXPECTED TO RISE.

RAINSTORMS POUNDED TOWNS TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY AND PROMPTED WATER RESCUES.

HELICOPTERS CREWS LIFTED PEOPLE TO SAFETY FROM THEIR HOMES AND SOME FIRST RESPONDERS USED RUBBER BOATS TO REACH DRIVERS.

IN THE AFTERMATH, DOZENS OF CARS LEFT STREWN AND PILED ON ONE ANOTHER.

MORE THAN 11-HUNDRED SOLDIERS ARE HELPING WITH SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS AND SPAIN’S CENTRAL GOVERNMENT HAS SET UP A CRISIS COMMITTEE TO ORGANIZE LIFE-SAVING EFFORTS.

TRANSPORTATION INCLUDING BUSES, TRAINS AND SOME FLIGHTS WERE DISRUPTED AMID THE TORRENTIAL RAIN.

OFFICIALS SAY FLIGHTS HAVE RESUMED BUT SOME HIGH-SPEED RAIL OPERATIONS COULD TAKE DAYS TO RESTORE.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE ALSO WITHOUT POWER TO THEIR HOMES.

THE COUNTRY’S NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS IT RAINED MORE IN EIGHT HOURS IN THE TOWN OF VALENCIA THAN IT HAD IN THE PAST 20 MONTHS.

CALLING THE WASHOUT “EXTRAORDINARY.”

SPAIN’S GOVERNMENT HAS DECLARED THREE DAYS OF MOURNING STARTING ON THURSDAY.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.