Footballer named victim of Spain's flash flood as death toll rises

A former football has been named as one of the victims of the flash floods that has brought destruction to parts of Spain. Valencia CF have paid tribute to their former player Jose Castillejo.

The 28-year-old has played for various football clubs in the region with many paying tribute. The sad news came as rescue teams searched for bodies in stranded cars and sodden buildings. It has been reported that the floods have claimed at least 158 lives, with 155 deaths confirmed in the eastern Valencia region alone.

Paying tribute to Jose, Valencia said: "Valencia CF mourn the passing of José Castillejo, casualty of the flash floodings. José Castillejo came up through the [club's] youth system up to U18 level and played for others teams in the region."

Another of his former clubs, Eldense, paid a tribute of their own. "Terrible news coming from the catastrophic DANA," it read. "CD Eldense deeply regrets the death at the age of 28 of José Castillejo, former blue-and-red player in the 2015/2016 season. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace."

The damage from the storm late Tuesday and early Wednesday has seen survivors left to pick up the pieces as they mourn their loved ones. Cars were piled on one another like fallen dominoes, uprooted trees, downed power lines and household items all mired in mud that covered streets in dozens of communities in Valencia, a region south of Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast. An unknown number of people are still missing and more victims could be found.

The floods demolished bridges and left roads unrecognisable. Luis Sanchez, a welder, said he saved several people who were trapped in their cars on the flooded V-31 highway south of Valencia city.

"I saw bodies floating past. I called out, but nothing," Mr Sanchez said. "The firefighters took the elderly first, when they could get in. I am from nearby so I tried to help and rescue people. People were crying all over, they were trapped."

Regional authorities said late Wednesday that rescuers in helicopters saved some 70 people stranded on rooftops and in cars, but ground crews were far from done.

"We are searching house by house," Angel Martinez, one of 1,000 soldiers helping with rescue efforts told Spain's national radio RNE from the town of Utiel, where at least six people died.

Spain's Mediterranean coast is used to autumn storms that can cause flooding, but this was the most powerful flash flood in recent memory.