At least 62 people are known to have died after torrential rain caused devastating flash floods in south-eastern Spain. In the town of Chiva near Valencia, more than a year's worth of rain fell in just eight hours, and local officials say it is "impossible" to put a final figure on the number of people who have perished. Footage uploaded to social media shows floodwaters causing chaos in the wider region, knocking down bridges and dragging cars through the streets. Other video appears to show people clinging to trees to avoid being swept away. Much of the country has been badly hit by heavy rain and hailstorms, triggering rapid flooding across multiple areas. More than 1,000 troops are being deployed to help with the rescue operation, as scores of people remain unaccounted for. Local media have also reported damage and casualties in the Balearic islands. Spain's King Felipe VI said he was "devastated" by the floods, and sent his "heartfelt condolences" to the families of the victims, in a post on X. Radio and TV stations have reportedly been receiving hundreds of calls for help from people trapped in flooded areas or searching for loved ones, as emergency services struggle to reach some areas. Rescuers are using drones to search for the missing in the badly affected municipality of Letur, local official Milagros Tolon told Spanish public television station TVE. "The priority is to find these people," she said. The town of Chiva was among the first to experience the fury of the flash floods. Local media reported that by 18:00 (17:00 GMT) on Tuesday the town's streets had turned into rivers, with cars, street lamps and benches being swept along with the force of the water. The civil protection did not send a warning to residents of the Valencia region until over two hours later. Many are now questioning the timing of that warning, saying that it arrived too late for people to get off the roads or seek refuge on the higher floors of their homes. Spain's defence minister Margarita Robles told reporters that the flooding across the region was "an unprecedented phenomenon". She added: "Yesterday, during the night, the emergency services were in the area, but the avalanche of water was tremendous." Police have issued an emergency hotline and asked people to phone 9006 5112 to report people who are missing. "Practically all the main roads have been cut off and the secondary roads as well," a government representative for the region, Pilar Bernabe said. "Not going out is not a mere recommendation, it is a necessity to guarantee the safety of the people who are stranded and the people who have to go to rescue others." "If (emergency services) have not arrived it's not due to a lack of means but a problem of access," the regional leader of Valenica, Carlos Mazon, told a press conference, adding that reaching certain areas was "absolutely impossible". Spanish weather service AEMET reported that Chiva, in the Valencia region, recorded 491mm of rain in just eight hours on Tuesday - the equivalent to a year's worth of rain. It has declared a red alert in the Valencia region and the second-highest level of alert in parts of Andalusia. The floods have caused transport disruption with several flights due to land in Valencia diverted to other cities and others cancelled. All train services are suspended in the Valencia region, the national rail infrastructure operator ADIF said. Valencia city hall said all schools and sporting events were suspended on Wednesday, and parks will stay closed. Many factors contribute to flooding, but a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely. The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions. ## Impact on MotoGP Valencia Grand Prix MotoGP says it "remains committed" to running its season finale Valencia Grand Prix as scheduled in November, but that its focus is on support after flooding in the Valencia region has destroyed roads and killed over 50 people. The Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia is set to host the traditional MotoGP final round on 15-17 November, plus the post-season test day on 19 November, but that has been thrown into doubt after heavy flooding destroyed access roads around the circuit. MotoGP officials announced the circuit has not been damaged by the floods and is currently being used as a relief centre, following over 50 deaths and many people still missing. Torrential weather has hit the Valencia region in the last 24 hours, with a month’s worth of rain falling in the space of eight hours. Due to the developing situation in Valencia, MotoGP has asked for focus to be on supporting the crisis and those impacted before it makes a final decision over the Valencia GP next month. “Everyone is aware of the current situation in Valencia caused by the heavy rains and flooding,” a MotoGP statement read. Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing, stated: “There have sadly been over 50 fatalities in the region and many people are still missing. Our hearts go out to the victims and their loved ones. Fortunately there have not been any injuries within the circuit staff but there is extensive damage to the exterior of the facility, specially to the circuit’s access. We’ve been informed that the Grand Prix track itself seems to be in good condition although a full evaluation is still ongoing. As you will all understand, it would be both insensitive and irresponsible to talk about the event at the current time. The focus must continue to be on helping those affected and the circuit is currently being used as a relief centre. As MotoGP we must try to help in anyway possible. Franco Morbidelli, Yamaha Factory Racing, added: “Nevertheless, both the local authorities and MotoGP remain committed to holding the event on the scheduled date and will work relentlessly to do so. We will follow up with more information when it’s available and will communicate as soon as possible if there are changes to the set-up of the event.” The Valencia circuit and surrounding area hosted the FIA Motorsport Games last weekend, which was unaffected, and the track is also due to host Formula E pre-season testing between 4-7 November. Most recently, the 2023 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was cancelled by Formula 1 organisers after flooding in the area. ## A Warning Sign of Climate Change Climate scientists have warned that torrential rains are set to get stronger as the planet heats up. Ernesto Rodríguez Camino, senior state meteorologist and member of Spanish Meteorological Association, said: “These types of intense and exceptional, rare rainfall events are going to become more frequent and more intense and, therefore, destructive.” He said scientists would be able to quantify the role of climate change after the event but could not do so on the fly. María José Sanz, scientific director of the BC3 Basque Centre for Climate Change, said hotter oceans meant there was more water in the atmosphere. Changes in the jet stream also appear to be keeping areas of low pressure in one place for longer. The air can hold 7% more water for every degree celsius the planet heats. The world has heated about 1.3C and Europe has warmed by about double that. Liz Stephens, a climate risk scientist at the University of Reading, said “the tragic consequences of this event show that we have a long way to go to prepare.” A red weather warning was issued for the region with enough time for people to move out of harm’s way, she added, but a red warning alone doesn’t communicate what the impact will be or what people should do. “People shouldn’t be dying from these kinds of forecasted weather events in countries where they have the resources to do better.” ## International Support The EU has offered support to Spain, the president of the EU Commission has said. In a post on social media, Ursula von der Leyen said “Europe is ready to help.” The German government has also offered its help to Madrid, a spokesperson in Berlin said on Wednesday. “We are in direct contact with the Spanish government as to whether there should be support from Germany for this terrible disaster,” the spokesperson said, according to Reuters. The floods in Spain come some three years after the 2021 floods that killed more than 220 people in Europe, leaving a trail of destruction in Germany and Belgium, as well as damage in the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland. ## A Call for Unity and Solidarity Speaking earlier on Wednesday, Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, expressed his condolences to the families of the at least 52 people who have died and others who continue to search for their missing loved ones. “We are going to help you with all the resources of the State. And if necessary from the European Union”, he said. He added: “I would like to ask citizens not to let our guard down. The storm continues to wreak havoc.” Pedro Sánchez called for unity, solidarity - and vigilance and warned the weather in Valencia was still ‘wreaking havoc’. In a televised statement on Wednesday morning, Sánchez, called for unity, solidarity - and vigilance. “We mustn’t let our guard down because the weather front is still wreaking havoc and we can’t say that this devastating episode is over,” he said. “There are still weather warnings in Andalucía, Valencia, Aragón, Castilla y León, in Cataluña, in Extremadura, in Navarra, in La Rioja and in Ceuta. That’s why I’m asking people in those areas to take special care: to stay off the roads; to avoid travelling close to ravines, riverbanks and riverbeds, and to heed the advice of the emergency services and of the police. No one should be putting their life at risk.” The prime minister said that Spain had had more than its fair share of natural and health emergencies in recent years - mentioning the Covid pandemic, Storm Filomena in January 2021, and the volcanic eruptions in the Canary Islands that same year - but said such adversity brought out the best in the country. “We’re going to lend a hand and help those who can’t get into their homes or who are looking for relatives or friends or loved ones,” he added. “But most of all, right now, we’re going to stand with those who are suffering the loss of their loved ones.” ## Valencia Football Club Offers Support Valencia’s football club have expressed their “sincere condolences” to those who have died, adding in a social media post that it was ready to help authorities in “any way possible”. They have also postponed their Copy Del Rey clash with Parla Escuela, which was due to take place this evening in Madrid. The devastating floods in Spain highlight the urgent need for climate action. As the planet warms, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, posing significant risks to lives and livelihoods. Governments and international organizations must work together to mitigate the effects of climate change and build resilience in vulnerable communities. ## A Devastating Toll At least 52 people have died after torrential rains hit southern and eastern Spain on Tuesday, bringing flash floods that raged through towns and cut off roads and rail lines. Emergency services in the eastern region of Valencia have confirmed the deaths of 51 people though the region’s leader said it was still too early to provide a comprehensive death toll. The central government office for Castilla La Mancha region said an 88-year-old woman had been found dead in the city of Cuenca. In some parts of the country, more than a month’s worth of rain fell in a day, leaving dozens of people stranded, with some reportedly forced to climb on top of cars or gas stations as they waited to be rescued. The country’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, was expected to speak on Wednesday just before midday. Soon after, he is expected to chair a crisis meeting on the floods. The intense rain has been attributed to the gota fría, or “cold drop”, which occurs when cold air moves over the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This creates atmospheric instability, causing warm, saturated air to rise rapidly, leading to the formation of towering cumulonimbus clouds in a matter of hours and dumping heavy rain across eastern parts of Spain. ## Images of Devastation Some photos taken after the storm dropped a year’s worth of rain in hours, causing rivers to quickly burst their banks and even spawning tornadoes. ## A Message of Support and Hope Spain’s King Felipe has said he was “heartbroken” by news of the floods, in a social media post that offered condolences to the families of the more than 50 people killed. “I’m sending strength, encouragement and all the necessary support to all those affected,” he said. “We recognise and appreciate all the local and regional authorities and the emergency and security services as they continue with the titanic task they have been carrying out since the very first moment.” Dozens of people spent the night stranded as mud-coloured waters rose across huge swathes of Spain, from the southern provinces of Malaga to the Valencia area in the east. Some perched on top of cars and trucks, hoping to be rescued, while others climbed onto the rooftops of shops and gas stations, newspaper El Paīs reported. Rescues took place throughout the evening and continue Wednesday. At least 51 people are feared to have died after torrential rains hit southern and eastern Spain on Tuesday, bringing flash floods that raged through towns and cut off roads and rail lines. As the search continued for the missing, people were urged to stay off the roads amid warnings that the number of fatalities could rise. Speaking on Wednesday morning, the president of the eastern region of Valencia said it was still too early to provide a comprehensive death toll.