Spain floods horror as 'at least 51 dead or missing' and cars swept away in freak weather

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Spain is currently grappling with the aftermath of severe flash floods in Valencia, with a staggering death toll and several individuals still unaccounted for as Storm Babet looms on the horizon.

The torrents of mud-stained water have wreaked havoc from Malaga to Valencia's east coast, claiming at least 50 lives, emergency responders have confirmed. Terrifying footage and photographs circulating online show the violent floodwaters that engulfed cars, reaching alarming heights. There are growing concerns for more missing or deceased residents in Spain's ravaged regions.

Utiel Mayor Ricardo Gabaldon expressed to RTVE the dire situation with multiple residents trapped within their homes. Helicopter rescue operations have been undertaken by police and emergency teams to evacuate individuals from residential areas and vehicles.

In response to the crisis, about 1,000 soldiers from an emergency rescue brigade of Spain's military are actively assisting the rescue efforts, reports the Mirror. Authorities have also alerted citizens that local drinking water supplies might be compromised due to the floods.

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."

Authorities issued a warning, stating: "We reiterate the importance of NOT travelling by road, both in the province of Valencia and in Castellón. The telephone number for assistance to relatives of missing persons is activated. We have started to rescue, we have started to access places that until very recently were inaccessible, and we continue to work."

Meanwhile, a high-speed train carrying nearly 300 passengers derailed in Malaga, fortunately resulting in no injuries, but causing significant travel disruptions. The regional government office in Castilla La Mancha reported to Cadena Ser radio that six individuals were missing in the region, while Spanish news agency EFE stated that a truck driver was unaccounted for in L'Alcudia, Valencia.

The national weather service forecasted the storms to persist through Thursday, prompting the deployment of an emergency rescue brigade from Spain's army to aid in rescue efforts. Citizens were instructed to remain at home and avoid non-essential travel as the disaster continued to unfold.

A British couple, Vitalij Farafonov and his wife, found themselves stranded in their car for ten hours amid the chaos, recounting to Sky News: "It was mayhem as we counted nine or 10 overturned lorries on a half mile stretch of the motorway. We've never seen anything like it."

Valencia CF has extended an offer of assistance in "any way possible" amid the adverse weather conditions, requesting the postponement of their Copa Del Rey clash scheduled for tonight. The club stated via social media: "Due to heavy rain and storms, the Generalitat, through the Emergency Coordination Center, recommends avoiding any type of travel in the province of Valencia."

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"We make ourselves available to the authorities and municipalities affected to help in any way possible. Valencia has requested to postpone the match the team had planned to play tomorrow in Madrid against Parla Escuela.

"The Club considers that it is the most appropriate measure due to the serious consequences we are experiencing in the province of Valencia, the recommendations to avoid travel and the communication cuts with Madrid."

Spain, which has faced similar autumnal storms over recent years, has seen some reprieve from a severe drought thanks to this year's rainfall.

Experts are drawing links between these increasingly frequent episodes of extreme weather and climate change.

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