Floods in Spain: At least 95 dead, including British man, near Malaga | World News

The death toll from floods in Spain has risen to at least 95, with a British confirmed among the dead.

Cars were dragged through the streets and scores of buildings were damaged in some places as six months of rain fell in a matter of hours.

92 people died in the Eastern Valencia region and 2 people died in the central Castilla La Mancha region.

Meanwhile, a 71-year-old British man died in hospital after being rescued from his home in Alhaurin de la Torre, near the southern city of Malaga.

The head of the Andalusian government said he suffered hypothermia and died after several heart attacks.

Follow latest: People ‘stranded like rats’ – towns flooded

Officials in the worst-hit areas SpainThe east and south of had advised people to stay at home and avoid non-essential travel.

Valencia’s regional authorities said early Wednesday evening that the death toll had risen to at least 92. Children are among the deaths.

Authorities in Castilla La Mancha said the two people killed there included an 88-year-old woman found dead in the city of Cuenca.

In Letur, near the Sierra de Segura mountain range, 30 people were trapped after the river flowing through the town overflowed.

Local mayor Sergio Marin Sanchez said six people were missing in the area.

Dozens of videos on social media show people stranded in floodwaters, many holding on to trees to avoid being swept away.

Helicopters were used to rescue some people from their homes.

Other videos shared by Spanish broadcasters show water rising to the lower floors of houses and cars being carried along the street.

PM warns of more storms

“We are united and we will rebuild your streets, squares and bridges,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said at a press conference, adding to those affected that “Spain will be with you.”

He said the government’s crisis committee would work “hand in hand” with local authorities and mayors “24 hours a day” for “as long as the emergency continues”.

But he warned the “devastating event” may not be over, with forecasters predicting further storms by Thursday.

‘We are trapped like mice’

Radio and TV stations received hundreds of calls for help from people stranded or looking for loved ones, as emergency services were unable to reach everywhere.

More than 1,000 soldiers from Spain’s emergency response units were deployed to assist.

“Yesterday was the worst day of my life,” Ricardo Gabaldon, mayor of the Valencian town of Utiel, told national broadcaster RTVE. He said several people were still missing in his town.

“We were trapped like mice,” Mr. Gabaldon said. “Cars and garbage containers were flowing through the streets. The water rose up to three metres.”

While rain in Valencia tapered off late Wednesday morning, storms were expected to continue Thursday, according to Spain’s national weather service.

‘It was chaos’

A British couple told Sky News they had been trapped in their car for almost 10 hours.

While Vitalij Farafonov and his wife were visiting Valencia for a yoga holiday, they were removed from the highway by the police at around 20:00 yesterday evening.

He said: “It was complete mayhem as we counted nine or 10 trucks overturned on a half-mile stretch of the motorway.

“We’ve never seen anything like it.”

Mr Farafonov said he and his wife were “stuck on a random rural road between beautiful orange groves”.

“We can finally see flashing blue lights so people know where we are,” he added. “Like I said, we’re lucky.”

The couple, who are originally from the Midlands but now live in Luxembourg, have four children who are safe with relatives in Barcelona.

‘The rain of half a year’

Jon Clarke, editor of news outlet The Olive Press, told Sky News from one of the worst-hit areas of Malaga that he expected more deaths to be announced.

He said the storms were “the worst natural disaster in at least 50 years.”

Mr Clarke said some areas in the Valencia region were hit by “six months of rain” within six to seven hours.

Transport was also seriously affected when a high-speed train with approximately 300 people on board derailed near Malaga. Officials said no one was injured.

Rail lines elsewhere were also disrupted.

Spain’s transport ministry announced just before 11 a.m. that high-speed trains between Valencia and Madrid would be suspended throughout Wednesday.

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‘Titanic job’

Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia said they were “devastated” by the deadly floods.

“We express our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the more than 50 deceased,” the statement said.

“Strength, courage and all necessary support for all affected.

“This is our warmest message and appreciation to the local and regional authorities and all emergency services, armed forces and state security forces and troops for the tremendous work they have done from the very beginning.”

Football matches involving Valencia and Levante, both in the city, were postponed.

Both teams were scheduled to play in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night. Saturday’s league match between Valencia and Madrid could be cancelled, as well as other midweek matches.

An increase in extreme weather events such as floods or wildfires seen elsewhere in Europe during the summer months is likely linked to human-caused climate change, scientists have warned.

Meteorologists believe that the warming of the Mediterranean Sea, which increases the evaporation of water, plays an important role in making showers more intense.