At least 52 people die in flash floods in Spain | World news

At least 52 people have died in Spain after flash floods hit parts of the country.

Heavy rain flooded roads and towns, sending cars racing through the streets, derailing a train and damaging homes and buildings.

Follow the latest: People ‘trapped like rats’ – with cities underwater

Authorities in the worst-affected areas had advised people to stay at home and avoid all non-essential travel.

Emergency services said at least 51 people were killed in the flooding in the east Spain, and local outlet El Pais reported that an 88-year-old woman was found dead in the Cuenca town of Mira, further inland.

Children were among those killed in the Valencia region.

In Letur, near the Sierra de Segura mountains, thirty people were trapped after the river flowing through the town burst its banks.

Dozens of videos shared on social media appeared to show people stuck in the water, with some holding on to trees to avoid being swept away.

Authorities deployed helicopters to rescue some residents from their homes.

Other videos shared by Spanish broadcasters showed water entering the lower floors of houses and even dragging cars down the street.

PM warns of more storms

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said at a press conference that “we are united and we will rebuild your streets, squares and bridges,” telling those affected: “Spain will be by your side.”

He added that the government’s crisis committee would work “hand in hand” with local authorities and mayors, “24 hours a day as long as the emergency continues.”

However, he then warned that the “devastating event” may not be over yet, with forecasters predicting further storms until Thursday.

‘Caught like rats’

Radio and TV stations received hundreds of calls for help from people trapped in flooded areas or searching for loved ones, as emergency services were unable to reach all affected locations.

More than 1,000 soldiers from the Spanish emergency response units were deployed in the devastated areas.

“Yesterday was the worst day of my life,” Ricardo Gabaldon, the mayor of Utiel, a town in Valencia, told national broadcaster RTVE. He said several people are still missing in his city.

“We were trapped like rats,” Gabaldon said. “Cars and garbage containers flooded the streets. The water rose up to three meters.”

While rain subsided in Valencia late Wednesday morning, the storms were forecast to continue on Thursday, according to Spain’s national weather service.

‘It was chaos’

A British couple told Sky News they had been stuck in their car for almost ten hours.

Vitalij Farafonov and his wife were on a yoga retreat in Valencia last night around 8 p.m. when they were diverted from the highway by police.

He said: “It was chaos as we counted nine or 10 overturned trucks on a half-mile stretch of the highway.

“We’ve never seen anything like this.”

Mr Farafonov said he and his wife were stuck “on a random rural road among beautiful orange groves”.

“We can finally see blue lights so people know where we are,” he added. “Like I say, we’re the lucky ones.”

The couple, who are originally from the Midlands but now live in Luxembourg, have four children who are safe in Barcelona with family.

Transport was severely affected by the floods.

A high-speed train with nearly 300 people on board derailed near Malaga, but authorities said no one was injured.

The railway lines were also disrupted elsewhere.

The Spanish Ministry of Transport announced just before 11 a.m. that the high-speed train service between Valencia and Madrid will be suspended throughout Wednesday.

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‘Titanic work’

Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia said they were “devastated” by the deadly floods.

“Our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the more than fifty deceased,” they said in a statement.

“Strength, courage and all necessary support for all those affected.

“Our warmest message and recognition to the local and regional authorities and all emergency services, armed forces and state security forces and corps for the gigantic work they have done from the very beginning.”

Scientists have warned that increased episodes of extreme weather, such as flash floods or the wildfires seen elsewhere in Europe in the summer, are likely linked to human-induced climate change.

Meteorologists believe warming of the Mediterranean Sea, which increases water evaporation, is playing a key role in making downpours more severe.