Spain is grappling with its worst flooding in decades after an extraordinary amount of rain—equivalent to a year’s worth—fell within hours in the southern and eastern regions earlier this week.

The storm began on Tuesday and has resulted in at least 158 fatalities, with 155 deaths reported in the heavily impacted Valencia region, according to Spanish Minister for Territorial Policy Ángel Víctor Torres. Dozens more remain unaccounted for, as officials continue to search for the missing.

Floodwaters inundated towns, submerged roads, caused rivers to overflow, and left thousands of residents without power or access to running water. Torres expressed concern over the missing individuals, acknowledging that the chances of finding them alive diminish as more time passes.

Valencia experienced its heaviest rainfall in 28 years, with many caught off guard and trapped in basements and ground floors of buildings. Emergency responders are still conducting rescue operations, recovering bodies, and clearing debris.

Extent of the Damage

The flooding primarily devastated Spain’s southern and eastern regions, which typically see autumn rain but have never experienced a storm of this magnitude. Most of the casualties occurred in Valencia, a densely populated area along the Mediterranean coast known for attracting tourists. Flash floods turned rural villages into waterlogged zones and made major highways impassable from Tuesday night into Wednesday.

In the city of Valencia, a courthouse had to be converted into a temporary morgue. The town of Paiporta suffered significant loss, with at least 40 people dead, including six from a retirement home, according to reports from the Spanish news agency EFE.

Public transport, including trains in Valencia, was suspended, and key public services like schools, museums, and libraries were closed. The situation in Utiel, one of the worst-hit towns, illustrates the widespread devastation. Residents like José Platero, who recalled that even his father, nearly 100 years old, had never seen such flooding, were out searching for belongings and trying to salvage their homes.

Along Utiel’s Avenida del Milagro, locals worked together to remove muddy water from their homes, using brooms to clear debris from kitchens and bedrooms. Carmen, a resident, recounted how water burst through her garage door, sweeping through her kitchen with such force that it toppled her refrigerator. Ángel, another resident, shared his fears about financial ruin if insurance does not cover the damage.

Flooding was also severe in Murcia and Malaga, with over 100 mm (4 inches) of rain reported in some locations. In Malaga, located in Andalusia on the southern coast, a 71-year-old British man succumbed to hypothermia, the city’s mayor confirmed. One survivor described feeling “powerless” as he and his family struggled to escape rising waters, with his wife carrying their daughter to safety.

In Valencia’s La Torre neighborhood, volunteers were working to clean up on Thursday. Residents expressed frustration at the lack of timely government alerts, stating they did not receive warnings about the impending flood until it was too late.

Government Response

Over 1,000 military personnel have been deployed to aid in rescue operations, with some areas accessible only by helicopter, Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced. Bodies were discovered as rescue teams reached previously isolated areas, according to Valencia’s regional leader, Carlos Mazón. Emergency responders have now reached all affected regions.

The Spanish government issued alerts on Tuesday, urging people to remain indoors or seek higher ground. The national meteorological agency, AEMET, placed extreme rain warnings in effect for areas like Valencia, predicting up to 200 mm (8 inches) of rain within 12 hours.