Severe flash floods in Spain, many bodies discovered

(CLO) An unspecified number of bodies have been found in areas hit by flash floods in southeastern Spain, authorities said on Wednesday.

Torrential rains caused by a cold front moving through southeastern Spain flooded roads and towns on Tuesday, prompting authorities in the worst-hit areas to advise people to stay home and avoid all unnecessary travel.

"The bodies have been found, but out of respect for the families of the victims, we will not provide any further data," Carlos Mazon, the head of the Valencia region, said on Wednesday.

Men stand next to a mud-covered car on a flooded street in Alora, near Malaga, on October 29, 2024, after heavy rains hit southern Spain. Photo: CNN

Images from the city of Valencia show muddy water rushing through streets, destroying walls and sweeping away parked cars.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said several people were still missing due to the floods and urged people to be "extremely cautious" and avoid unnecessary travel.

Heavy rain warnings were issued for several areas on Tuesday, including around Valencia, according to the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET). The warnings predict up to 200mm of rain in less than 12 hours.

Some localities have recorded rainfall that far exceeded forecasts in a much shorter period of time. Chiva, east of Valencia, received 320mm of rain in just over four hours, according to the European Severe Weather Database.

The Valencia region typically receives just 77mm of rain in October. There have also been reports of flooding in areas around Murcia and Malaga with rainfall exceeding 100mm in some places.

A strong low pressure area is moving into the region from northern Africa, bringing significant atmospheric instability. The extreme rainfall is also being enhanced by moisture from the Mediterranean and runoff from high elevations, which further compresses the moisture.

Hong Hanh (according to CNN, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/lu-quet-nghiem-trong-o-tay-ban-nha-nhieu-thi-the-duoc-phat-hien-post319124.html