The death toll from catastrophic floods sparked by torrential rains in Spain’s eastern Valencia region has climbed to 62, emergency services reported on Wednesday.
“New toll produced by the various security and emergency forces: provisional figure of 62 fatal victims,” the regional emergency services agency announced on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged citizens not to lower their guard as the emergency continues, pledging not to abandon victims of the disaster on a scale rarely seen in the European country.
“For those who at this moment are still looking for their loved ones, the whole of Spain weeps with you,” Sanchez said in a televised address. “To the villages and cities destroyed by this tragedy, I say the same: Together, we will rebuild your streets, your squares, your bridges.”
Carlos Mazon, the regional leader of Valencia—one of Spain’s most important agricultural areas—stated that some people remain isolated in inaccessible locations.
“If emergency services have not arrived, it’s not due to a lack of means or predisposition, but a problem of access,” Mazon told a press conference, adding that reaching certain areas was “absolutely impossible.”
Trains to the cities of Madrid and Barcelona have been canceled due to the flooding, and schools along with other essential services have been suspended in the worst-hit areas, officials said.
Heavy rain and fierce winds have lashed Spain since the beginning of the week, igniting floods in the eastern Valencia and southern Andalusia regions.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
