At least 155 dead in severe Spain flooding

At least 155 people have been confirmed dead following catastrophic flooding in Spain, as reported by the Spanish news agency EFE. In the southeastern region of Valencia, which saw the majority of the fatalities, local authorities reported 155 dead while rescue teams reported at least 158 victims. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, during a visit to the affected area, stated that the storm is not over yet. Dozens are missing, which could further increase the death toll. The country’s meteorological institute issued new flood warnings for the province of Castellón in the Valencia region. Spain has endured autumn storms before, but none have caused destruction on this scale. Within eight hours, a year’s worth of rain fell, triggering severe floods that isolated many areas and overwhelmed cities and roads. Some individuals were forced to climb trees to escape the rising waters. Criticism has arisen over the tardiness of Spain’s emergency response in issuing weather warnings.