Fears bodies will be found in ‘mass graves’ following Spanish floods
by Brooke Davies · MetroAs the search for bodies continues in Spain following the devastating floods in Valencia, police fear more will be found hidden in the wreckage.
Firefighters have expressed fears of finding mass graves after pictures from the scene show a flooded underground shopping centre car park.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, has announced the largest army deployment in peacetime with another 5,000 soldiers to be deployed – 4,000 today and 1,000 tomorrow morning – on top of the at least 2,000 already on the ground.
So far, more than 200 people have been killed – ex-Valencia football star José Castillejo among them – and 2,000 are missing after catastrophic flooding hit the Spanish city, with the death toll expected to rise.
Communities have been cut off from water, food and electricity, with residents saying they are relying on the help from volunteers rather than the government.
Many thought they were going to die when the rushing waters hit, with most fatalities in and around Valencia.
2h ago Spain’s PM announces largest army deployment in peacetime
3h ago King Charles issues statement following floods in Spain
4h ago Spain deploys more than 1,000 troops to help with rescue efforts
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November 2, 2024 12:07 pm
Number killed in Spanish floods rises to 211
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has issued an update on the death toll and has confirmed 211 people have now died as a result of the floods.
He told Spanish radio station Cadena SER: ‘Over the last 48 hours, state security forces and the armed forces have inspected thousands of garages, homes, riverbeds and roads and have located and removed 211 fatalities.’
4,800 people have been rescued so far.
November 2, 2024 10:33 am
Spain’s PM announces largest army deployment in peacetime
The Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez has been speaking to the nation and has announced another 5,000 soldiers will be deployed – 4,000 today and 1,000 tomorrow morning – on top of the at least 2,000 already on the ground.
He told Spanish radio station Cadena SER: ‘We are talking about the largest deployment of state security forces and bodies of the armed forces that has ever been made in our country in times of peace.’
To help a Spanish navy ship is also expected to be deployed.
November 2, 2024 10:08 am
Will the Valencia Marathon be cancelled?
The Valencia Marathon is an annual marathon road running event held in Valencia and this year it is expected to take place on December 1, 2024.
While the marathon has not been officially cancelled yet, with the flooding it is not yet known whether it will definitely be able to run.
The marathon has been running since 1981 and has never been cancelled before even during the coronavirus pandemic.
In 2020, a modified version of the Valencia Half Marathon course, with marathon runners running two laps was instead completed.
November 2, 2024 9:54 am
King Charles issues statement following floods in Spain
King Charles has written a letter to King Felipe of Spain and offered his condolences for the ‘tragic loss of so many lives’.
Charles said in the letter: ‘My wife and I were utterly heartbroken to learn of the destruction and devastation following the catastrophic flooding in southern and eastern Spain.
‘So many in the United Kingdom have strong, personal ties to Spain, and our nations are bound by so much that we have in common.’
He said his and Camilla’s ‘deepest possible sympathy are with all those who have lost loved ones and livelihoods this terrible week’.
November 2, 2024 9:50 am
Town hit with 42 litres of rain in 10 minutes
42 litres of rain per square metre fell in just 10 minutes in Turis, Spain, at the height of the storm, it has been revealed.
It was part of a record 179.2 litres per square metre (7.1 inches), the State Meteorological Agency confirmed.
The record was last set in 2018: 159 litres in Vinaros.
Turis experienced 618 litres per square metre – or 24 inches (two foot) of rain on Tuesday.
November 2, 2024 9:42 am
Latest travel advice to Spain
The government has advised people travelling to Spain to pay close attention to weather warnings wherever they are, in the latest update on October 30.
At the moment, people have not been instructed to cancel their trips to Spain and they will unlikely be advised to do so.
The update says: ‘Severe weather and flooding is affecting many areas of Southern and Eastern Spain, particularly the Valencia region and Castilla La Mancha. Journeys may be affected.
‘Check the latest weather warnings from Spain’s meteorological office before you travel and follow instructions from local authorities.’
Travel advice for the rest of the country has remained unchanged.
November 2, 2024 9:19 am
Volunteers register to help in Valencia
This morning volunteers have gathered at Valencia’s the City of Arts and Sciences, ready to walk to the worst parts of the city to try and help.
Volunteers are departing in buses and are bringing along food and water with them.
The number of people who have now registered to volunteer has exceeded 100,000, according to the Valencian Community Volunteer Platform.
November 2, 2024 8:48 am
Map shows where weather alerts are in place in Spain today
Heavy rain and storms continue to batter parts of Spain as the country comes to grips with the impact of the flooding.
Today, an orange alert has been issued to areas in the north west of Spain including Tarragona, Tarragona’s southern coast, Northern coast of Castellon and Northern interior of Castellon.
In these areas, there is the risk of storms accompanied by hail, as well as the risk of 40mm of rain in the space of one hour and 100mm of rain in the space of 12 hours.
Major cities like Barcelona have been hit with a yellow warning which means the risk of 20mm of rain in the space of just one hour and 60mm in 12 hours as well as high winds.
Other areas in the north west of Spain with a yellow warning include the northern coast of Valencia, Southern coast of Castellon and Tarragona Central Depression.
Areas in the south east of the country have also received a yellow warning including Guadix and Baza and Nevada and Alpujarras.
November 2, 2024 8:18 am
Spain deploys more than 1,000 troops to help with rescue efforts
Spain has now deployed more than 1,000 troops to help with rescue efforts since the flooding started as people start to come to terms with the impact of the floods.
Many crews have also been cut off from towns by flooded roads and downed communication and power lines.
To help with the rescue efforts, the European Union’s chief, Ursula von der Leyen, said it had activated its Copernicus satellite system to help co-ordinate Spanish rescue teams.
But many survivors say that they have been left to defend themselves and efforts to help them have been missed.
Many residents instead say they have been relying on local volunteers to help them get out of the flood water.
November 1, 2024 5:23 pm
Actor Antonio Banderas joins criticism of government’s response
Spanish actor Antonio Banderas has joined calls for Spain’s government to do more to help people affected by floods that have killed at least 205 people.
In a message on X, he said: ‘Why are army helicopters not sent to the Valencian villages affected by the DANA with food, water and medicine?
‘Why not sappers to open roads, mobile communication centres, field hospitals? Why are our taxes and resources not used better? Why?’
The actor has made a name for himself internationally, with an Oscar nomination for Pain and Glory, and a Golden Globe nomination for The Mask of Zorro.
November 1, 2024 3:31 pm
Questions raised about Spanish government’s response to floods
Questions have been raised about the alleged slow reaction of Valencia’s government before the floods on Tuesday.
A Spanish government official told POLITICO many were wondering why Valencian leader Carlos Mazón waited until 8pm to issue emergency text alerts to people.
Heavy rains had begun hours earlier.
The initial shock is now giving way to anger, frustration and a wave of solidarity.
November 1, 2024 3:11 pm
Spanish floods are deadliest in Europe since 1970
Three days after flash floods swept through several towns in Spain and killed at least 205 people, the initial shock was giving way to anger, frustration and a wave of solidarity on Friday.
Spanish emergency authorities raised the death toll to at least 205 victims, 202 of them in Valencia alone.
It’s the highest death toll from flooding in Europe since 1970, when 209 people died in Romania.
November 1, 2024 2:57 pm
Emotional images out of Valencia
November 1, 2024 2:42 pm
Keir Starmer and David Lammy send message of solidarity to Spain
Sir Keir Starmer has said that the UK ‘stands with Spain during this difficult time’ after flash floods killed more than 200 people.
The Prime Minister has also been in touch with the prime minister of Spain to convey a message of condolence following this week’s flooding, it is understood.
In a post on X on Friday afternoon, Sir Keir said: ‘My thoughts are with those who have lost their lives, their families and all those affected by the devastation caused by the extreme flooding in Spain.’
It is thought that the Prime Minister has also written to Pedro Sanchez to relay his personal condolences after the flooding, for which the death toll rose.
The UK is also thought to be on standby to offer any support, but at this point it is not thought that any assistance has been requested.
‘The Spanish people remain in the Prime Minister’s thoughts,’ a Number 10 spokeswoman said on Friday.
On Thursday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: ‘Our thoughts are with those that have lost their lives, their families and all those affected.’
November 1, 2024 2:35 pm
Latest radar as Balearics prepare for heavy rainfall
More rain is expected to batter parts of Spain today.
The Balearics are under a rain warning and parts of Valencia will see more rain later today.
November 1, 2024 2:33 pm
Watch: the moment streets flooded in Valencia
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November 1, 2024 2:25 pm
Weather warning issued to the Balearics
Spain’s national weather agency has issued another weather warning – this time, for the Balearic Islands.
Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera will likely receive large amounts of rain in a very short time, they said.
The agency added: ‘Stay away from flood zones, ravines and gullies.’
November 1, 2024 1:46 pm
Watch: baby rescued by helicopter
Up Next
Shocking footage has emerged showing a baby being winched up to a helicopter amid Spain’s devastating floods.
A helmeted fireman can be seen holding the child tightly as the two were pulled up to the helicopter.
The clip was posted to social media on Thursday by the Provincial Fire Department Consortium (CPBA) of Alicante.
November 1, 2024 1:26 pm
Has Spain experienced severe flooding like this before?
Floods of this magnitude have not happened in Spain in recent memory, making this storm a historic one.
Scientists link it to climate change, which is also behind increasingly high temperatures and droughts in Spain and the heating up of the Mediterranean Sea.
Human-caused climate change has doubled the likelihood of a storm like this week’s deluge in Valencia, according to a partial analysis issued on Thursday by World Weather Attribution, a group made up of dozens of international scientists who study global warming’s role in extreme weather.
Spain has suffered through an almost two-year drought, making the flooding worse because the dry ground was so hard it could not absorb the rain.
In August 1996, a flood swept away a campsite along the Gallego river in Biescas, in the north east, killing 87 people.
November 1, 2024 1:15 pm
Social media helping to connect flood survivors
Social networks have channelled the needs of those affected.
Some posted images of missing people in the hope of getting information about their whereabouts, while others launched initiatives such as Suport Mutu, or Mutual Support, which connects requests for help with people who are offering it.
Others organised collections of basic goods throughout the country or launched fundraisers.
Spain’s Mediterranean coast is used to autumn storms that can cause flooding, but this was the most powerful flash flooding in recent memory.
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