Spain has the largest disaster recovery in peacetime after devastating floods - King writes to his colleague

The King and Queen have said they are “utterly heartbroken” by the loss of life in Spain, where the number of people killed by floods has reached at least 211.

King Charles wrote a letter to Spain’s King Felipe offering his condolences for the “tragic loss of so many lives” after what has been described as Spain’s worst flood disaster in more than half a century.

“My wife and I were heartbroken to hear of the devastation following the catastrophic floods in southern and eastern Spain,” he wrote.

“So many in the UK have strong, personal ties to Spain, and our nations are bound by so much that we have in common.”

He said his and the Queen’s “deepest sympathies go out to all those who have lost loved ones and livelihoods this terrible week.”

Follow live updates: Tragedy exposes ‘criminal negligence’

Most deaths from the floods that hit Spain on Tuesday and Wednesday were reported in Valencia, the worst-hit region, but the number of deaths is expected to rise as an unknown number of people are still missing.

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told Spanish radio station Cadena SER: “It is reasonable to think that there will be more deaths.”

Emergency services have received calls from relatives of 1,900 people who cannot be found, he said, but “that is mainly due to communication failures”.

Thousands of people were left without power and telephone lines due to the flooding, but Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in his final speech on Saturday morning that power had been restored to most homes and about half of telephone lines had been reconnected.

He said the death toll now stands at 211 people.

Mr Sanchez added that 4,800 rescues had taken place in the past three days and that a reconstruction committee would be set up and an appeal for help sent to the EU.

More than 2,000 soldiers have been deployed to help find missing people and support survivors, while another 5,000 are being sent to Valencia, Mr Sánchez said. Another 5,000 police officers will be deployed to the region.

In some of the hardest-hit areas, people have resorted to looting because they have no food or water. Police said further
On Friday, 27 people were arrested for robbing shops and offices in the Valencia area.

Faced with massive cleanup efforts, residents have been supported by volunteers; according to the Volunteer Platform of the Valencian Community, more than 100,000 people have signed up to help.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer responded to X about the disaster, writing: “My thoughts are with those who have lost their lives, their families and all those affected by the devastation caused by the extreme flooding in Spain.

“The UK stands with Spain in this difficult time.”

The storm, considered the deadliest to hit Europe since the 1970s, triggered a new weather alert in the Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Valencia, where rain was expected to continue throughout the weekend.