Paiporta (Web Desk/Agencies): The death toll from Spain's catastrophic floods climbed to 205 on Friday, marking the deadliest flood disaster in the country in decades.
In response, the government has deployed additional troops to intensify the search for survivors.
The eastern region of Valencia has been particularly hard-hit, with emergency services confirming 202 fatalities there. Nearby regions, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia, have reported three additional deaths.
Rescuers, using drones and sniffer dogs, are tirelessly combing through floodwaters and debris in hopes of finding the many individuals still missing.
To support ongoing rescue efforts, an extra 500 troops are being sent to the affected areas, joining the 1,200 already on-site to assist with search, rescue, and logistical tasks.
Many regions remain cut off from water, food, and power, raising fears that the death toll could continue to rise.
Spain’s national weather service, AEMET, reported that one town west of Valencia received an astonishing 491mm of rain in just eight hours, nearly equivalent to an entire year's worth of rainfall.
Amid the turmoil, police have arrested 50 individuals for various offenses, including theft.
In a somber turn, the courthouse in Valencia city has been repurposed as a morgue, where health workers are managing the difficult task of identifying victims.
Meanwhile, hundreds of volunteers have rallied together, bringing shovels, buckets, and supplies to help residents in flooded neighborhoods.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez commended the "limitless solidarity and dedication of Spanish society" on social media, promising that aid will continue "for as long as it takes."
However, local authorities are cautioning against travel to the hardest-hit areas, warning that emergency services may be unable to reach them and that roads could be at risk of collapse.
As the situation develops, AEMET has placed parts of southern Andalusia on the highest alert level for more torrential rain and has issued warnings for Valencia, Catalonia, and the Balearic Islands.