Spanish Valencia Flash Flood Death Toll Soared To 95 People

UNSPLASH/Bernd ILLUSTRATION Dittrich

JAKARTA - The death toll from flash floods in Valencia, Spain, jumped to 95 people.

Meteorologists say rainfall for one year fell in eight hours in parts of Valencia on Tuesday, causing it to sink highways to agricultural land in an area that produces two-thirds of oranges grown in Spain, a leading global exporter.

Residents at the most affected locations describe how they see people climbing onto the roofs of their cars as brown water flows through the streets, overthrowing trees and dragging boulders from buildings.

"It was a flowing river," said Denis Hlavaty, who was waiting for rescue at a gas station where he worked in the regional capital.

"The door was torn down and I spent the night there, surrounded by water 2 meters deep," he added.

Defense Minister Total Robles said military units specifically carried out rescue operations on Thursday began combing through mud and debris with sniffer dogs in the area most severely affected.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez promised to rebuild the destroyed infrastructure.

"For those who are currently still looking for their loved ones, all of Spain is crying with you," he said.

Footage taken by emergency services from helicopters showed bridges collapsing and cars and trucks piled up on highways between flooded fields outside the city of Valencia.

Trains to the cities of Madrid and Barcelona were canceled due to flooding, and schools as well as other essential services were suspended in the worst-affected areas.

The i-DE electricity company, which is owned by Europe's largest utility company, Iberdrola, said around 150,000 clients in Valencia do not have electricity.

Emergency services in the area urge residents to avoid all land trips and follow further official advice.