Spain floods latest: British man among 95 dead and dozens still missing
Spain: Floodwaters carry away multiple vehicles in Valencia province.
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At least 95 individuals, among them a 71-year-old British citizen, have lost their lives in southern and eastern Spain due to the most severe flash flooding the country has experienced in 30 years.
Officials are concerned that the death toll could increase since other areas of Spain have not yet announced any casualties. Search operations are still ongoing in remote locations to locate many individuals who are still unaccounted for.
Minister of Territory Policies Angel Victor Torres expressed, "The inability to provide a specific count of the missing individuals highlights the extent of this tragedy."
A British man passed away in the hospital just hours after being saved from his house on the outskirts of Alhaurín de la Torre, Málaga, as reported by the president of the Andalusian government, Juanma Moreno.
He mentioned that the man had experienced hypothermia and passed away following multiple heart failures.
Heavy downpours, with some regions receiving an entire year’s rainfall within just eight hours, flooded cities like Valencia and Malaga. As a result, countless people felt "trapped like rats," stuck in their houses and vehicles, encircled by swiftly rising waters.
Authorities and emergency teams employed helicopters to airlift individuals from their residences and vehicles as brownish water rapidly inundated roads in numerous villages, towns, and cities.
What Have We Learned This Afternoon?
While rescue teams keep searching for the many individuals who are still unaccounted for, here's the latest update as of Thursday afternoon:
More than 140 individuals have lost their lives following intense flash floods in eastern Spain.
Officials have cautioned that the number of fatalities is expected to increase since there are "numerous individuals unaccounted for."
The area is facing additional weather alerts for today due to severe conditions.
A 71-year-old man from the UK is one of the casualties.
The rainstorms began on Tuesday and carried on into Wednesday, leading to severe flooding.
Over 1,000 troops from Spain's emergency response team have been sent to the hardest-hit regions.
The primary regions impacted include the eastern province of Valencia and its surrounding areas.
Sure! Here’s a rewritten version of the blog section in simpler terms: Athena Stavrou, on October 31, 2024, at 7:29 AM.
"Desperate Woman Searches For Lost Relative In Valencia Floods"
A woman continues to look for her missing family member among the wrecked buildings and inundated streets of Valencia.
As the floodwaters start to go down, Marta Rodríguez Múria and her family cling to the hope that her cousin David can still be found alive. The 32-year-old shared with The Independent: "The last information we received was that he was on his way to work."
"His vehicle was discovered left behind between Buñol and Chiva, but he has completely disappeared."
Just before the storm hit, her cousin contacted her aunt, asking for assistance as he was caught in the chaos of the storm. Since that time, there has been no word from him.
She stated, "We have no idea if he's okay or if the water carried him off. My aunt is absolutely devastated. We're all filled with grief, stuck in this awful situation."
In Torrente, where she resides, the community has been isolated from the rest of the world. The roads are in ruins, train services have been halted, and grocery stores are crowded with anxious shoppers.
She said, “I have no food or water, and I'm unable to buy any supplies since all the systems are malfunctioning.”
"We're eagerly anticipating any bit of news, anything that reassures us of his safety. Right now, all we really want is to receive some kind of word—whether it's positive or negative."
Marta stated that individuals were not alerted about the extreme weather until it was already "too late."
She expressed, "I feel helpless. There should have been more effective warnings. People were directed to work as if there were no imminent threats. The damage to property is one issue, but many lives could have been saved."
Salma Ouaguira, October 31, 2024, 2:52 PM.
Death Toll Rises To 140
According to Spain's state news agency EFE, the confirmed number of deaths has surged to 140.
The latest figure shows a significant increase from the earlier count of 95 that was reported this morning.
Athena Stavrou, October 31, 2024, 2:27 PM
Highlights From Spanish PM's Speech
Earlier today, the prime minister of Spain made a statement during his visit to some of the regions that suffered the most from the flash floods that occurred this week.
He advised residents to remain alert, cautioning that the impacts of flash flooding are far from over.
While addressing the Emergency Services Coordination Centre in Valencia, Pedro Sanchez announced that Valencia has been designated a disaster area and upgraded the crisis alert status to level two.
He advised those impacted by the flooding to remain indoors, as many in the area prepare for additional severe weather today.
"We are committed to standing by the people of Valencia," he stated. "We'll be here for as long as needed, utilizing all available resources. Our main focus at this moment is to locate victims and search for those who are missing. We also want to support friends and families as they cope with the distress that comes with having loved ones who are victims or unaccounted for."
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Climate Crisis Intensifies Top 10 Deadliest Weather Events
Scientists say that climate change has intensified the ten most lethal extreme weather events in the last twenty years, leading to the loss of over 570,000 lives.
Climate scientists emphasized that this discovery highlights the serious threat posed by extreme weather events, which have already intensified with a 1.3°C increase in global temperatures compared to pre-industrial times.
The discussion emphasizes the critical need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to increasing temperatures and severe weather events. Currently, we are headed towards a 3°C rise in temperature by the end of the century—a situation that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has labeled as “catastrophic.”
Athena Stavrou on October 31, 2024, at 2:03 PM.
Driver Hangs On Car Roof As Water Floods Roads
Athena Stavrou, October 31, 2024, 1:45 PM
David Lammy has expressed his sympathies to Spain on behalf of the UK government.
The foreign secretary posted on X: "The UK government sends its deepest sympathies to everyone impacted by the devastating floods in Spain. Our thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and all those who have been affected."
He mentioned that he extended complete support from the UK to his colleague, José Manuel Albares.
Athena Stavrou, October 31, 2024, 1:27 PM
What Led To Spain's Deadly Floods?
While emergency teams are tirelessly working to locate those who remain unaccounted for in Spain, many people are raising concerns about the factors that led to the severe flash floods that have claimed the lives of at least 95 individuals.
The area is recognized for being especially susceptible to heavy rainstorms in the autumn, which are triggered by a weather event referred to as a "cold drop" or DANA.
Nevertheless, it's thought that the harmful weather patterns are intensifying due to climate change, making this week's flash floods the most severe the area has experienced in thirty years.
When chilly air moves across the warm waters of the Mediterranean, it causes the warmer air to rise rapidly, leading to the formation of thick, moisture-filled clouds. These clouds can linger in the same spot for extended periods, increasing their potential for causing damage.
Eastern and Southern Spain are especially vulnerable to this phenomenon because of their location between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
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Shoppers Navigate Muddy Supermarket In Valencia
Athena Stavrou, October 31, 2024, 12:26 PM
"PM Warns: 'This Is Not Finished'"
Spain's prime minister has called on citizens to remain alert, cautioning that the impacts of flash flooding are still ongoing.
While addressing the Emergency Services Coordination Centre in Valencia, Pedro Sanchez announced that Valencia has been designated as a disaster area and elevated the official crisis level to two.
He advised those impacted by the flooding to remain indoors, as many in the area prepare for additional severe weather today.
“The key point is that I'm confident the people in Spain understand this issue isn't over yet,” he stated.
"The Spanish meteorological agency has issued warnings for Valencia and other areas in Spain. I strongly encourage everyone to follow these guidelines and listen to the advice from law enforcement and safety officials. If you have been impacted, please remain indoors."
Athena Stavrou, October 31, 2024, at 11:30 AM.
