Spain rescuers search underground parking as fresh flooding hits Barcelona

Water from the underground parking garage in Aldaia is being removed using pumps.

Spanish rescuers are concentrating their efforts on searching underground parking facilities and a multi-story garage in Valencia for individuals who are still unaccounted for after the severe flooding that occurred last week.

There are concerns that customers and employees may be stuck in the parking garage of a shopping center in Aldaia, near Valencia, as rising floodwaters inundate the region.

Authorities have verified that no victims were found among the first 50 cars checked at the location.

However, reports indicate that these vehicles were located close to the entrance of the parking lot, while the majority of the area remains underwater and has not yet been investigated.

Spain's State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in parts of northeastern Catalonia, leading to flooding in the capital city, Barcelona, on Monday morning.

Catalan news outlets aired videos showing vehicles mostly underwater on a highway, along with floodwaters pouring into a bus.

Water has reached certain areas of El Prat airport in the city, particularly in the public section of Terminal 1. Over 80 flights have been either cancelled, delayed, or redirected, and train services have been halted.

Barcelona is experiencing flooding as a warning has been issued for heavy rainfall.

The number of fatalities in the impacted regions has reached 217, following an entire year's worth of rainfall that occurred in and around Valencia last week. As of now, there have been no reports of deaths in Catalonia.

Among the victims were a British couple in their 70s, whose family has confirmed that they were discovered deceased in their vehicle days after the sudden floods struck Valencia.

On Monday morning, Spain's interior minister declined to disclose the number of people who remained unaccounted for.

The storm trapped numerous people in their cars on the roads and in underground areas like parking lots, tunnels, and garages, making rescue efforts especially challenging.

On Monday, the area around the Bonaire shopping mall in Aldaia was filled with decaying heaps of waste along the streets, while loud generators were busy removing water. However, a significant amount of water still lingered in the mall's parking lot.

According to a police spokesperson, Spanish authorities deployed drones to survey the flooded parking lot and assess the extent of the situation.

When the BBC inquired with a local police officer about the duration of the operation, he stated that he wasn't able to provide a timeline. However, he assured that the teams would remain on-site for as long as needed.

Similar to other areas in the region that have been ravaged by the floods, there is a lack of information.

Rescue teams have been exploring underground parking garages like this one in Sedavi, located close to Valencia.

Many people are upset because they feel that there wasn’t enough warning or adequate assistance from the officials following the floods.

On Sunday, during their visit to the town of Paiporta, which has been severely impacted in the Valencia region, the king and queen of Spain faced a barrage of mud and various items thrown at them by furious demonstrators.

Items were hurled at Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, prompting a swift evacuation.

The Civil Guard is currently looking into the disorderly events, as stated by Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska during an interview with the public broadcaster TVE.

He accused "fringe groups" of sparking the violence that left mud covering the faces and clothes of the royal figures.

During a press briefing on Monday, the head of Spain's Military Emergencies Unit (UME) announced that they had sent 500 soldiers to Valencia in advance, allowing them to start their operations as soon as they receive the green light.

General Francisco Javier Marcos reported that upon noticing the situation deteriorating, he notified 1,000 soldiers, who made their way overnight. He wanted the residents of Valencia to realize by dawn the following day that the military was present and ready to assist.

He said, "You could argue that we didn't take action quickly enough. Part of that was due to the weather, and the other part was about maintaining order and discipline."

You could argue that being slow isn’t a valid excuse, but consider this: adding more disorder to a situation that's already filled with chaos isn’t the answer.

BBC journalist in Valencia: "The anger is remarkable to witness."

Local officials in Valencia have prolonged travel limitations for an additional two days to help emergency services in their efforts. School classes have been suspended, and residents are encouraged to work from home.

Gen Marcos mentioned that traffic jams on certain roads were hindering the delivery of food to the 69 municipalities that are affected.

He mentioned that the troop presence has been increased, with 7,800 expected to arrive by 8:00 PM local time (7:00 PM GMT) on Monday. Additionally, there are 17,000 volunteers and 5,000 soldiers providing logistical assistance.

On Monday, a naval vessel arrived at the port of Valencia, bringing with it 104 marine infantry troops along with trucks loaded with food and water supplies.

Gen Marcos stated that the UME was "putting forth all our efforts," which includes working extended hours.

He emphasized, "We need to stay focused and exercise patience. I understand this can be challenging, as dealing with pain and strong feelings makes things difficult."