What we know

• Some 158 people are now known to have died after flash floods hit parts of Spain on Wednesday – particularly devastating communities in Valencia
  Almost all the deaths – 155 – have been recorded in the region, with two more in Castilla-La Mancha and another, a British man, in Andalusia
• Valencia residents have described “nightmare” scenes, saying  “We all know someone who has died”
• Emergency teams are continuing to search for those missing – hundreds of soldiers have been deployed to Valencia to assist with the operation
  Video footage from earlier shows some rescuers battling shoulder-high floodwater to look for survivors.

Flash floods in Spain have claimed at least 158 lives, with the heaviest toll and damage reported in Valencia. The region’s emergency coordination center has confirmed that Valencia alone recorded 155 deaths, with severe destruction to roads and railways. Critical areas, including Valencia and parts of Barcelona, are grappling with widespread power, phone, and internet outages as emergency teams continue to search for missing individuals.

Hundreds of soldiers have been deployed to Valencia to assist in ongoing rescue operations. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has urged residents to “stay at home” as King Felipe VI cautions that the emergency is “not over.” With more rain expected Friday on already saturated ground, officials warn of a heightened risk for additional flooding.

Source: BBC