More Than 200 Dead in Spain Floods: ‘Entire Houses Disappeared’

Major flash floods in Spain have left more than 200 people dead, with officials saying that “entire houses have disappeared.”

As of Friday, the death toll from Spain’s historic flash floods rose to at least 205, with many more still missing. As the initial shock fades, frustration and anger have set in, alongside an outpouring of solidarity across the country.

What We Know

Spanish emergency officials reported that 202 of the victims were in the Valencia region, with authorities warning that more rain is expected in the coming days.

The devastation from Tuesday and Wednesday’s storm has drawn comparisons to a tsunami, as survivors grapple with immense loss in what is now Spain’s deadliest natural disaster in recent memory. Streets remain choked with overturned vehicles and debris, leaving some residents stranded in their homes. Many areas are still without electricity, running water, or reliable phone connections.

In Chiva, residents spent Friday clearing debris from mud-slicked streets after Tuesday’s downpour brought more rain in eight hours than the town had seen in the past 20 months. Water surged over a gully running through the Valencian town, ripping apart roads and tearing down walls of homes.

Authorities have recovered 205 bodies—202 in Valencia, two in Castilla-La Mancha, and one in Andalusia. Security forces and soldiers continue to search for an unknown number of missing people, many of whom are feared to be trapped in destroyed vehicles or submerged garages.

“Entire Houses” Gone

While speaking with the national Spanish radio station, RNE radio, Amparo Fort, the Mayor of the town of Chiva, said, “entire houses have disappeared, we don’t know if there were people inside or not.”

Emilio Cuartero, a resident in the town of Masanasa, near Valencia, said, “The situation is unbelievable. It’s a disaster and there is very little help.”

“We need machinery, cranes, so that the sites can be accessed. We need a lot of help. And bread and water,” Cuartero said.

Juan Vicente Pérez, a resident of Chiva, said, “I have been there all my life, all my memories are there, my parents lived there … and now in one night it is all gone … If we had waited five more minutes, we would not be here in this world.”

Solidarity

The tragedy has sparked a groundswell of solidarity across the region. In hard-hit towns like Paiporta, where at least 62 people lost their lives, and Catarroja, residents have trekked through thick mud for miles to Valencia to gather supplies.

Along the way, they pass neighbors from less affected areas bringing water, essential goods, and tools to help clear the mud. The influx of volunteers has been so large that authorities have urged people not to drive, as the extra traffic hinders emergency vehicles from accessing critical areas.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.