Spain Valencia floods latest: British man among 95 dead and dozens still missing

As rescue workers continue trying to recover the dozens of people still missing, here is what we know on Thursday morning:

– At least 95 people have been killed after eastern Spain was hit by flash floods.

– Ministers have warned that the death toll is likely to rise as there are “many missing people”.

– A 71-year-old British man is among the dead.

– Forecasters are predicting more heavy rain for the areas affected.

– The rainstorms started on Tuesday and continued on Wednesday which triggered the devastating flooding.

– More than 1,000 soldiers from Spain’s emergency response unit have been deployed to the most devastated areas.

– The main areas affected are the eastern province of Valencia and neighbouring regions.

Today (Thursday) marks the first official day of national mourning in Spain, after at least 95 people were killed by flash flooding.

Three days of mourning were declared by the Spanish government in the wake of the tragedy.

During an official mourning period, public events are often postponed or cancelled out of respect and flags fly at half mast.

As emergency sevices continue to search for the dozens of people still missing in the devastating flash floods, more rain has been forecast for some of the worst-affected areas.

Spain’s state meteorological service Aemet has issued warnings yellow and orange warnings for much of eastern Spain, with up to 100mm of rain expected to fall within 12 hours in areas north of Valencia.

Valencia itself is also facing a yellow weather warning, with 20mm of rain expected to fall in one hour on Thursday.

The surrounding areas of Castello de la Plana, Vinaros, Morella and Tortosa are all subject to more severe orange weather warnings.

At least 95 people have been confirmed dead since flash floods devestated eastern Spain, with more expected to come.

Emergency services are continuing to search for the dozens of people still missing in the regions affected, with more rain on the way.

Government minister Angel Victor Torres told Spanish broadcaster TVE that the death toll is likely to rise because “there are many missing people”.

Climate change made the 10 deadliest extreme weather events over the past two decades worse, contributing to the deaths of more than 570,000 people, scientists have said.

Climate scientists said the finding “underscores how dangerous extreme weather events have already become” with just 1.3C of global warming above pre-industrial levels.

It also highlights the urgency of cutting the greenhouse gas emissions driving rising temperatures and more extreme weather, they said, as the world is currently on track for 3C of warming by the end of the century – a level recently described by UN chief Antonio Guterres as “catastrophic”.

Half-term holidaymakers have been warned by the Met Office to expect heavy rain in Spain’s east coast tourist destinations this week.

The national meteorological service said that a risk of “significant flash flooding”, “frequent lightning” and “large hail” will continue through to the end of the week following heavy showers and thunderstorms.

The Met Office said: “Torrential rain and thunderstorms could bring flash flooding, landslides and significant disruption to parts of eastern Spain this week.

“A further 250-350mm of rain is possible by the weekend in a few places – the average for the whole of October is closer to 50-100mm!”

Flash floods turned streets into rivers, destroyed homes, and killed at least 95 people in Spain’s worst natural disaster in recent memory.

Torrential rainstorms hit southern and eastern parts of the country, including the Costa del Sol region, where the city of Malaga is located, and Valencia in the east.

Rescuers waded through mud-coloured water while cars and vans appeared stranded. More than 1,000 soldiers from Spain’s emergency response units have been deployed to the worst-hit areas.

The town of Chiva, west of Valencia province, recorded 491 mm of rain in just eight hours, almost equalling a year’s worth, according to Spain’s weather service.

Flash floods in Spain turned village streets into rivers, ruined homes, disrupted transportation and killed at least 95 people in the worst natural disaster to hit the country in decades.

Nearly 155,000 homes were without electricity in Valencia, according to the energy minister.“All of Spain weeps with all of you… We won’t abandon you,” prime minister Pedro Sanchez told victims and their families in a televised address.

The disaster could not be considered over and “we will deploy all the necessary resources for as long as necessary so that we can recover from this tragedy,” he added.