OVIEDO, Spain

Catastrophic floods in eastern Spain have left at least 72 dead, Spanish public broadcaster RTVE reported on Wednesday afternoon.

At least 70 people died in the Valencia region and another two in Castilla-La Mancha. In Paiporta, one of the worst-hit towns, the mayor spoke of “dozens of deaths” from the storm.

Authorities have yet to provide an estimate of the number of those still missing.

The latest death toll comes after a harrowing night of devastating flash floods caused by the worst storm of the century, comparable only to two others in the 1980s, according to Spain’s meteorological agency.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged people to remain vigilant as storms continued to batter the Iberian Peninsula, warning that the weather front was “still wreaking havoc” and that the emergency was far from over.

On Wednesday afternoon, the government of Catalonia activated a red alert in parts of the province of Barcelona. Spain’s meteorological agency has also activated a red alert for areas of Cadiz.

Sanchez called for unity and solidarity, warning residents of affected regions, including Valencia, Andalusia and Extremadura, to avoid travel near ravines and riverbanks and to follow emergency recommendations.

He pledged full support, assuring that all state resources – and, if necessary, EU assistance – would be provided.

The German government also offered support to Madrid, while EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her condolences, activating satellite support and mobilizing EU Civil Protection resources if needed.

“What we are seeing in Spain is devastating. My thoughts are with the victims, their families and the rescue teams,” von der Leyen told X.

Speaking to reporters in the Canary Islands, Spain’s King Felipe addressed the flood disaster, expressing concern over the widespread destruction and ongoing challenges.

He noted that access to some areas remains difficult, leaving the extent of damage and potential casualties still uncertain.

Expressing his relief that all available resources are available to the authorities and emergency services, he stressed the importance of allowing them to continue their work in a coordinated manner.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Spanish government announced that it would declare the affected area a “catastrophic zone”.

The annual rain falls in mere hours

The storm began Tuesday, dropping a year’s worth of rain in a matter of hours, causing rivers to quickly burst their banks and even spawning tornadoes.

Roads and towns began to flood, prompting authorities to cut rail service around Valencia, cancel flights and eventually ask residents to stay indoors until Tuesday night.

However, by the time the government sent out emergency alerts asking people to stay indoors or seek higher ground, much of the damage had already been done.

As rivers tore through cities, roads and neighborhoods, hundreds of people were trapped on the roofs of homes, vehicles, shopping malls or industrial areas; some were clinging to trees.

Desperate residents took to social media to plead for help after local emergency lines went down due to a combination of flooded buildings and the high volume of calls.

In Valencia, rescues continued until Wednesday afternoon. Spain’s Ministry of Defense has deployed around 1,000 members of the armed forces to help with the effort.

“We couldn’t reach the victims when they needed it the most,” Jose Miguel Basset, the fire chief of Valencia province, told Spanish broadcaster RTVE on Wednesday morning. “And we still don’t have access to all the places that need saving.”

The government of Valencia has opened a specific telephone line to report missing persons.

Residents are still being urged to avoid any travel on the highway, and most schools in the autonomous region remain closed.

Meanwhile, the storm system continues to move across the Iberian Peninsula, with much of north-east and south-west Spain under weather warnings for heavy rain.

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