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Unprecedented floods in Spain kill more than 215 people

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Unprecedented floods in Spain kill more than 215 people

Catastrophic flooding in Spain’s Valencia region, following torrential and historic rains that submerged roads and towns, has killed more than 200 people, according to authorities.

VALENCIA, Spain – More than 215 people lost their lives Spain As an unprecedented result flood ravaging the region and marking the deadliest weather conditions disaster in the modern environment of the country history.

Pope Francis prayed for those who lost their lives and their relatives on Friday families The storm’s aftermath was unleashed on the east coast of the Iberian Peninsula, including the hardest-hit region of Valencia.

Referring to the region that suffered the heaviest blow of the destruction, the Pope said, “May God help those who are suffering and those who come to help. Our closeness to the people of Valencia.”

WHAT IS THE ‘DANA’ STORM THAT CAUSED DEADLY FLOODS IN SPAIN?

Firefighters affiliated with the search and rescue team are working by closing the tunnel on the border of Benetusser and Alfafar municipalities with vehicles and rubble following the sudden flood disaster on the Benetusser and Alfafar border on November 1, 2024. Alfafar municipalities of Valencia, Spain.

Firefighters affiliated with the search and rescue team are working by closing the tunnel on the border of Benetusser and Alfafar municipalities with vehicles and rubble following the sudden flood disaster on the Benetusser and Alfafar border on November 1, 2024. Alfafar municipalities of Valencia, Spain.

(David Ramos/Getty Images)

The death toll rose to 217 on Sunday, with almost all of the deaths occurring in the Valencia region. Reuters reported. The process of searching for and identifying the victims continues.

On Sunday, Spain’s King Felipe, Queen Letizia and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited one of the worst-hit areas.

The storm that ravaged Spain’s east coast dumped a year’s worth of rain in just eight hours. The mountain town of Chiva, west of Valencia, was hit with 19.33 inches of rain in eight hours, with some areas seeing rainfall rates of 6.5 inches per hour.

according to Spanish State Meteorological AgencyValencia’s southern coast faces the risk of extremely heavy rainfall again on Sunday, with rainfall rates of up to 3 inches per hour.

Over the weekend, emergency authorities in Valencia were fighting misinformation about the flooding of the Aldaia valley. However, officials said the valley was dry and there was no emergency.

More than 500 soldiers were sent to Valencia to aid survivors and search for the missing.

SEARCH EFFORTS FOR PEOPLE MISSING DUE TO FLOODS IN SPAIN CONTINUE

  • View of damaged areas as search and rescue efforts continue for 1900 people exposed to floods in Chiva, Valencia, Spain, on November 03, 2024.

    View of damaged areas as search and rescue efforts continue for 1900 missing people in danger of floods in Valencia, Chiva, Spain, on November 03, 2024. Faced with packed streets, the Military Emergency Unit (UME) launched rescue and cleanup efforts. through mud and overturned vehicles, including trucks. Some volunteers were hospitalized because they were exposed to carbon monoxide during cleanup. Today’s planned visit to Chiva by the King and Queen of Spain, regional president Carlos Mazon and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been canceled due to protests in Paiporta. (Photo: Lorena Sopena/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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  • People walk past piles of cars swept away after the latest flash flood in the Alfafar municipality of Valencia, Spain, on November 1, 2024.

    People walk past piles of cars swept away after the latest flash flood in the Alfafar municipality of Valencia, Spain, on November 1, 2024.
    (David Ramos/Getty Images)

  • A woman stands at the entrance of her house crying and reacts after the devastating effects of the flood in the town of Paiporta in the Valencia region in eastern Spain, on November 1, 2024.

    A woman stands at the entrance of her house crying and reacts after the devastating effects of the flood in the town of Paiporta in the Valencia region in eastern Spain, on November 1, 2024.
    (JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images)

  • People clean mud from the street on November 1, 2024, after the devastating effects of a flood in a residential area in the town of Massanassa, in the Valencia region of eastern Spain.

    People clean mud from the street on November 1, 2024, after the devastating effects of a flood in a residential area in the town of Massanassa, in the Valencia region of eastern Spain.
    (JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images)

  • This photo, taken on November 1, 2024, shows the devastating effects of a flood in a cemetery in the town of Alfafar, in the Valencia region of eastern Spain.

    This photo, taken on November 1, 2024, shows the devastating effects of a flood in a cemetery in the town of Alfafar, in the Valencia region of eastern Spain.
    (JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images)

  • Cars and a caravan are strewn across railroad tracks after being swept away during the latest flash flood in the Alfafar municipality of Valencia, Spain, on November 1, 2024.

    Cars and a caravan are strewn across railroad tracks after being swept away during the latest flash flood in the Alfafar municipality of Valencia, Spain, on November 1, 2024.
    (David Ramos/Getty Images)

  • People walk past cars and trucks among the debris swept away during the recent flood along the V-31 highway near the municipality of Massanassa on the outskirts of Valencia, Spain, on November 1, 2024.

    People walk past cars and trucks among the debris swept away during the recent flood along the V-31 highway near the municipality of Massanassa on the outskirts of Valencia, Spain, on November 1, 2024.
    (David Ramos/Getty Images)

  • Two Civil Guard rescuers search a river following the devastating effects of flooding in the town of Paiporta in the Valencia region of eastern Spain on November 1, 2024.

    Two Civil Guard rescuers search a river following the devastating effects of flooding in the town of Paiporta in the Valencia region of eastern Spain on November 1, 2024.
    (MANAURE QUINTERO/AFP via Getty Images)

  • People line up to buy supplies near a pile of wrecked cars on November 1, 2024, following the devastating effects of flooding in the town of Paiporta in the Valencia region of eastern Spain.

    People line up to buy supplies near a pile of wrecked cars on November 1, 2024, following the devastating effects of flooding in the town of Paiporta in the Valencia region of eastern Spain.
    (MANAURE QUINTERO/AFP via Getty Images)

  • A man sits behind a large pile of mud on November 1, 2024, following the devastating effects of a flood in the town of Paiporta in the Valencia region of eastern Spain.

    A man sits behind a large pile of mud on November 1, 2024, following the devastating effects of a flood in the town of Paiporta in the Valencia region of eastern Spain.
    (JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images)

  • This photo, taken on November 1, 2024, shows the devastating effects of flooding in a residential area in the town of Massanassa, in the Valencia region of eastern Spain.

    This photo, taken on November 1, 2024, shows the devastating effects of flooding in a residential area in the town of Massanassa, in the Valencia region of eastern Spain.
    (JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images)

  • People clean mud and belongings from their homes after the latest flash flood in Alfafar municipality, Valencia, Spain, on November 1, 2024.

    People clean mud and belongings from their homes after the latest flash flood in Alfafar municipality, Valencia, Spain, on November 1, 2024.
    (David Ramos/Getty Images)

  • People throw a baking table out of a bakery following the latest flood in Utiel, in the Spanish province of Valencia, on October 31, 2024, when heavy rain and flooding affected much of the country.

    People throw a baking table out of a bakery after the latest flood in Utiel, in the Spanish province of Valencia, on October 31, 2024, when heavy rain and flooding affected a large part of the country.
    (Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

  • A woman walks on a muddy street on November 1, 2024, after the devastating effects of a flood in the town of Paiporta in the Valencia region of eastern Spain.

    A woman walks on a muddy street on November 1, 2024, after the devastating effects of a flood in the town of Paiporta in the Valencia region of eastern Spain.
    (MANAURE QUINTERO/AFP via Getty Images)

Thousands of volunteers from across the region were flocking to help with rescue efforts on Friday. In the town of Pinanya, hundreds of people used shovels and brooms to clean the mud from the streets and buildings. Spanish rescuers opened a makeshift morgue at a convention center and scrambled to reach areas still flooded.

WATCH: Drivers trapped in DEADLY floods rescued in SPAIN

Thousands of volunteers from across the Valencia region flocked to help clean up efforts in areas hardest hit by deadly flooding in eastern Spain on Friday.

Aerial images taken from a military helicopter on Thursday show widespread flooding continuing in Valencia. The Spanish Aerospace Force said the images were taken by the crew of the NH90 helicopter during a six-and-a-half-hour rescue mission.

Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME) teams were seen inspecting damage and searching basement car parks and buildings in Valencia on Thursday night, using trained dogs.

On Wednesday, a police officer in Valencia had to use a sheet to save his neighbor who was swept away by floodwaters.

The Spanish National Police released a video showing cars submerged in flood waters. A woman can be seen in the water holding on to sheets attached to a makeshift rope.

AERIAL VIDEO SHOWS WIDELY FLOOD DAMAGE IN SPAIN

A police officer in Valencia, Spain, used a sheet to save his neighbor who was swept away by flood waters on Wednesday.

Police captioned the video: “Our colleague Daniel… last night managed to keep a neighbor afloat after being swept away by the current on Benetuser.” “A few minutes ago, he saved another neighbor with the rope he made from sheets.”

The Ministry of National Education said that 22 municipalities will not be able to hold classes this week due to the storm.

The disaster could be Europe’s worst storm-related disaster in the last fifty years.

At least 185 people died in the severe floods in Germany in 2021. Before this, 209 people died in Romania in 1970, and approximately 500 people died in the flood in Portugal in 1967.

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