Spain floods latest: New red alert as death toll passes 150 and residents warned to brace for more fatalities
Death toll continues to rise after worst flash floods in three decades sweeps across Spanish region of Valencia
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Your support makes all the difference.Fresh red weather warnings on have been issued in Spain on Friday, as rescue teams continue their desperate search for people missing after catastrophic flash flooding.
The number of people confirmed dead rose from 95 to at least 158 on Thursday, with more expected to come as emergency services begin their third day of searching.
Spain’s state weather agency, Aemet, has issued the most severe kind of weather alert in the south west of the country as the province of Huelva was hit by torrential rain.
Those hit hardest by the flash flooding in eastern Spain are also expecting more rain, as yellow and amber weather warnings remain in place.
The country is in its second day of an official three-day national mourning, with flags at half-mast on official buildings.
Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez urged residents to stay at home as he warned devastation is “not finished” on Thursday and declared the worst impacted province of Valencia a “disaster zone”.
Valencia to be declared a disaster zone - PM
Spain’s prime minister has announced that Valencia is to be declared a disaster zone following the deadly flash flooding that has devastated the area since Tuesday.
Speaking at the Emergency Services Coordination Centre in Valencia, Pedro Sanchez also said the official crisis level has been raised to level two.
Spanish farmers devastated by flood damage
Spanish farmers have been devastated by the flash flooding, with crops wiped out and livestock killed.
Utiel residents Javier Iranzo, 47, and Ana Carmen Fernandez, 48, told Reuters the flooding had completely wrecked their pig farm, with 50 of their animals having drowned.
They estimated hundreds of thousands of euros worth of damages and, despite government pledges of help, said they worried about whether they would receive state aid to help rebuild.
EU fly flags half mast following tragedy
The European Commission is flying its flags half mast today in solidarity with the lives lost in Spain’s flash flooding.
A picture of the EU flags outside the headquarters Brussels was shared on X/Twitter
“The European flags in front of our headquarters in Brussels are at half-mast. Our thoughts are with the victims of the floods in Spain, their families and the rescue teams. The floods in Spain are not only a national tragedy. It’s also a European one.”
Severe weather warning issued
Severe weather warnings have been issued by Spain’s state meteorological service Aemet for Thursday.
Calm weather returned on Thursday to the hardest-hit areas around the city of Valencia, Spain’s third-largest, but the Aemet state weather agency issued its highest level of alert for the province of Castellon.
Further north in the Catalonia region, an amber alert was issued for the city of Tarragona.
It warned: “Extreme danger! Do not travel in the area unless absolutely necessary!”
Spanish president to visit Valencia today
Spain’s president is set to visit some of the worst affected areas of Valencia on Thursday.
President Pedro Sanchez will be seeing the devastating damage first hand having already spoken with the Carlos Mazon and Emiliano García-Page, the presidents of the Valencia Community and Castilla-La Mancha.
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