Century's deadliest flood claims 104 lives in Spain

At least 104 people have tragically lost their lives in Spain due to heavy rains and subsequent flooding that have wreaked havoc across the country.

Initial reports indicated 92 fatalities in the autonomous community of Valencia, with an additional three casualties in other regions, Caliber.Az reports referencing foreign media.

On October 29, Spain's State Meteorological Agency issued a warning for adverse weather conditions, particularly in the southern and eastern parts of the country, where the risk level was escalated to maximum due to relentless rainfall.

The aftermath of the floods has left dozens of roads impassable, disrupted railway services, and inflicted significant damage on infrastructure. Approximately 70,000 households are still without electricity. As of October 31, the weather warning remains in effect for certain areas, including Valencia.

In response to the crisis, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has declared a three-day national mourning period as ongoing severe weather hampers rescue operations.

The Spanish civil protection agency has faced criticism for delays in issuing alerts, with warnings coming hours after some towns had already experienced flooding. Regional officials defended their decision to disband the Valencia Emergency Unit, which was tasked with disaster response.

Over 1,000 troops have been deployed to assist in rescue efforts, but many areas remain difficult to access due to flooded roads and disrupted communication lines. The European Union has activated its Copernicus satellite system to help coordinate response efforts, with other European nations offering additional assistance.

Spain’s Defense Minister Margarita Robles described the flooding as an "unprecedented phenomenon."  Meteorologists warn of more downpours heading toward Catalonia, prompting further flood alerts across the nation.

While natural weather patterns, such as the seasonal "gota fría," have contributed to the intense rainfall, scientists highlight the influence of climate change. 

With global temperatures having already risen by approximately 1.1°C since the industrial era, experts stress the urgent need for significant reductions in emissions to mitigate the occurrence of extreme weather events in the future.

By Tamilla Hasanova