VALENCIA, Spain – A catastrophic one flash flood claimed dozens of lives in Spain’s Valencia region after torrential and historic rains left roads and towns under water, according to authorities.

At least 51 lives have been lost in devastating floods in Valencia, according to the city. Emergency Coordination Center. The rising death toll marks the worst flooding disaster in Europe in 2021, when almost 200 people died, mainly in Germany.

Carlos Mazon, the regional leader of Valencia, said during a press conference on Wednesday that some people remained isolated in inaccessible places.

As a powerful storm system lashed Spain’s east coast from Monday to Tuesday, strong moisture-laden winds lashed the mountains west of Valencia, dumping torrential rain for hours on waterlogged areas. European region.

Spain’s weather agency AEMET issued a red alert for Valencia, a key citrus-producing region, as torrential rain drenched the area.

The mountain town of Chiva, west of Valencia, was drenched by 19.33 inches of rain in just 8 hours. An incredible 13.55 inches of this fell in just four hours, and 6.5 inches poured down in a single hour.

The water rushed down the mountainsides, quickly overwhelming rivers and cities with raging waters.

Government officials urged residents to seek higher ground and stay on upper floors if possible. Video FROM Spain’s civil defense showed some water rescues driven by helicopter.

Hundreds of cars were caught in floodwaters on a Spanish highway, according to apuntmedia.esand several other major highways were closed, impacting travel. Railway services were also suspended. A pedestrian bridge also crashed in Picanya.

The severe weather also brought reports of tornado and big hail.