Valencia flash floods as 'at least 51 people dead' and Spanish PM issues urgent warning

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Spain is currently dealing with the aftermath of severe flash floods in the eastern region of Valencia, as emergency responders confirmed over 50 people have died, whilst several more remain missing.

Mud coloured water swept through areas from Malaga down to Valencia's east coast yesterday, whilst emergency service teams took rubber dinghy boats to rescue people around the wreckage. A raft of terrifying images and videos are being shared on social media showing cars being swept away by the flood following torrential rain on Tuesday.

In response to the crisis, 1,000 soldiers from emergency rescue brigade of Spain's military are actively assisting in the rescue process.

Spanish authorities have issued a warning telling citizens to "NOT travel by road" under any circumstances, in the province of Valencia and Castellón. They have also set up a telephone number "for assistance to relatives of missing persons" to alert people of any news regarding their relatives and the BBC is reporting up to 52 people are believed to have been killed in the devastation.

What's happening in Valencia?

Carlos Mazón, the president of the Generalitat, took to X, stating: "These are very difficult times for relatives and missing persons. In the next few hours we will confirm the number of victims, but right now it is still impossible to provide an exact figure. We are dismayed."

Citizens of Spain have been instructed to stay at home, and avoid non essential travel as the disaster continues to destroy the area of Valencia.

This is the worst flood related incident in Spain since 1996 when 87 people died and 180 were injured during a flash flood that happened near Biesca in the Pyrenees.

What is the Spanish PM saying?

The Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has given a statement to the Spanish citizens, telling them to remain careful as the amber warnings are still in place in several areas of southern Spain.

He warns residents in regions of Valencia, Andalusia and Catalonia to take precautions to keep themselves safe, urging them to avoid driving or being near any bridges to not put their lives at risk.

"We won't abandon you", he told flood victims. He says a lot of people are facing uncertainty, but the country is here to help them - with all the resources they need to recover their lives and homes.

Emergency services are working tirelessly, he explained, including local police, NGOs and the Guardia Civil - the national police force with military status who are in the streets on the affected areas.

Sanchez reassured that the crisis team that was set up yesterday will continue to work in line with the mayors of the affected areas.

What is the forecast

The national weather service forecasted the storms to persist in the region through to Thursday, which has prompted the deployment of an emergency rescue brigade from Spains army to aid in rescue efforts.

Experts are drawing links between these extreme weather conditions and climate change. As Spain has previously faced similar autumnal storms in recent years, and some regions have reprieved from severe droughts.

More than a years worth of rain fell in just eight hours in the town of Chivas, a popular tourist destination.

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