At least 64 people have died in Spain in recent hours due to the intense DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels) that has primarily affected the Valencia Community and Castilla-La Mancha, with reports of flooding in some areas of Andalusia as well.
Official figures reveal that there are currently 62 deaths in the Comunidad Valenciana, while two other fatalities have been reported in Castilla-La Mancha, specifically in the town of Letur, Albacete.
The situation remains critical, with dozens of missing persons, particularly in the provinces of Valencia, Letur, and Cuenca.
Emergency situation and rescue deployment in the Valencian Community
The Generalitat Valenciana has made available to the public the phone number 900365112 to address inquiries regarding missing persons.
Rescue operations have continued throughout the night and into this morning, with emergency teams working under challenging conditions due to the collapse of multiple roads and failures in telecommunications services.
José Miguel Basset, head of the provincial firefighters' consortium of the Valencia Diputación, reported that several hundred people are still trapped on the A-3 and A-5 highways, with access to the affected areas extremely difficult.
Given the scale of the emergency, the government has formed a crisis committee, while the president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón, called a meeting at six in the morning to coordinate rescue and assistance efforts.
"It's not a recommendation, it's a necessity," said Pilar Bernabé, the Government Delegate in the Valencia Community, emphasizing that the population must avoid traveling by road due to the seriousness of the situation.
The main roads in the province are closed, and many secondary routes have also been rendered impassable.
Scenes of devastation and calls for caution
The effects of the DANA have left a trail of destruction: cars swept away by the current, destroyed bridges, rescues in extreme conditions, and material damages estimated in millions of euros.
Social media has been flooded with images of people trying to seek refuge in high places to protect themselves from the floods.
The situation has been described as "exceptional" by the State Meteorological Agency, which compared this DANA with the historic storms of 1987 and 1982, recalling the "Pantanada de Tous," a devastating event in the region.
The rainfall accumulated over 24 hours reached 445.4 l/m², the highest recorded since 1966 in the Valencian Community, according to the initial report provided by AEMET on social media platform X.
Efforts of the Military Emergency Unit and security measures in Valencia.
The Military Emergency Unit (UME) has deployed over 1,000 personnel in the province of Valencia to assist with rescue and evacuation efforts.
The soldiers are working in collaboration with the Emergency Coordination Center of the Generalitat Valenciana, facing extreme challenges to access the most affected areas.
The Institute of Forensic Medicine in Valencia has deployed nine forensic teams to carry out identifications and recover bodies at the accident sites.
The remains will be transferred to the City of Justice in Valencia, where a space has been prepared for the reception and conduct of autopsies.
Government measures and messages of support
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, made a statement to express his support for the families of the victims and reiterated that "all public administrations are coordinating their resources to assist those affected."
Sánchez also assured that Spain would utilize all possible resources, including requesting assistance from the European Union if necessary, to support the reconstruction of the devastated areas.
Additionally, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has announced the activation of the Copernicus satellite system to assist in coordinating rescue efforts and monitoring the progress of the flooding in real time.
Maximum alert and suspension of transportation
The General Directorate of Traffic and transportation authorities have announced that over 60 roads remain closed, while the AVE Madrid-Valencia service has been suspended indefinitely.
This decision is due to the severe weather conditions and the dangers posed by travel on the affected roads.
The Generalitat has issued alerts through the Es-Alert system to inform citizens of the need to avoid any unnecessary travel.
King Felipe VI expressed his "sorrow and sadness" over the tragedy affecting the Community of Valencia and other regions of the country. In his message, he extended his condolences to the families of the victims and emphasized the importance of the population remaining calm and following the guidance of the authorities.
UPDATE:
The number of fatalities has increased to at least 70, according to the latest update from Televisión Española.
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