Spain has been struck by the worst natural disaster in recent memory, with at least 63 people dead in flash floods caused by extreme rainfall.
The super storm came after a red warning was issued by the country’s weather office, the highest alert possible.
But many were still taken off guard by the conditions, without plans for mass evacuations such as were seen for Hurricane Milton which hit Florida earlier this month.
While people comprehend the scale of the clean-up after cars were piled up on top of one another and streets destroyed, the weather warnings have not yet been lifted with more torrential rain forecast.
The country’s meteorological office AEMET’s most recent warnings map shows the south west and north east will this time take the brunt, which comes after the country had dealt with drought conditions.
A red warning remains in place for Cádiz province in Andalusia, while Seville is covered by an orange alert. Further north, Barcelona and Pamplona are among areas covered by a yellow warning.
The UK’s Foreign Office has also issued a warning to anyone from the UK travelling to Spain.
‘Severe weather and flooding is affecting many areas of Southern and Eastern Spain, particularly the Valencia region and Castilla La Mancha,’ it says.
‘Journeys may be affected. Check the latest weather warnings from Spain’s meteorological office before you travel and follow instructions from local authorities.’
Rainstorms yesterday caused flooding in a wide swathe of southern and eastern Spain, stretching from Malaga to Valencia.
Police and rescue services used helicopters to lift people from their homes and rubber boats to reach drivers trapped on the roofs of cars.
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez said dozens of towns had been flooded.
‘For those who are looking for their loved ones, all of Spain feels your pain,’ Mr Sanchez said in a televised address.
‘Our priority is to help you. We are putting all the resources necessary so that we can recover from this tragedy.’
Authorities reported several missing people late on Tuesday, but the following morning brought the shocking announcement of dozens found dead.
More than 1,000 soldiers from Spain’s emergency response units were deployed to the devastated areas and central government set up a crisis committee to help co-ordinate rescue efforts.
One elderly couple was rescued from the upper story of their house by a military unit using a bulldozer, with three soldiers accompanying them in the huge shovel.
Television reports showed videos shot by panicked residents documenting how waters flooded the ground floors of apartments, streams bursting their banks and bridges giving way.
The death toll will likely rise with other regions yet to report victims and search efforts continuing in areas with difficult access.
Spain is still recovering from a severe drought and continues to register record high temperatures in recent years. Scientists say increased episodes of extreme weather are likely linked to climate change.
The storms unleashed a freak hailstorm which punched holes in car windows and greenhouses as well as a rarely seen tornado.
Valencian regional president Carlos Mazon urged people to stay at home, with travel by road already difficult due to fallen trees and wrecked vehicles.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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