Nearly 2,000 Missing in Valencia as Floods Devastate Region, Hospitals Overwhelmed

Valencia is reeling from catastrophic flooding earlier this week, with nearly 2,000 people reported missing. Families are frantically searching for loved ones as the region’s hospitals struggle to cope with the crisis.

Firefighters are looking inside cars for bodies. Credit: Reuters.

The flooding, which turned roads into rivers, has left thousands of abandoned cars covered in sludge throughout the area. As of now, 202 fatalities have been confirmed in Valencia, while heavy rains have also affected regions like Andalusia and the Balearic Islands. Authorities have issued yellow and orange weather warnings for parts of Valencia and Catalonia through the weekend.

In response to the tragedy, a dedicated telephone line has been established for families to report missing persons, with approximately 1,900 individuals already registered as unaccounted for. On Thursday alone, search teams located 600 people previously listed as missing.

Locals now have the task of cleaning up all the mud. Credit: AP.

Officials are working tirelessly to identify the deceased, with a team of 100 forensic experts making only 17 identifications so far. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, with many victims believed to have drowned in their vehicles as they attempted to return home when the floods struck. The mayor of Chiva warned that “hundreds of cars turned upside down will surely have people inside them.”

Cars now litter roads after being caught in the torrents. Credit: Reuters

One survivor recounted the harrowing experience, stating, “There are almost certainly more people who have died because the water washed people away who had got out of their cars.”

As the community rallies, thousands of volunteers flock to the area to assist in clean-up and search efforts. Despite road closures, large crowds are making their way into disaster zones equipped with brooms and shovels. The military is also involved, with 500 soldiers deployed to aid recovery efforts. Psychologists have been dispatched to support survivors dealing with the traumatic aftermath.

People remove mud at a cemetery. Credit: Reuters.

In a grim twist, 64 individuals have been arrested for looting, including five men accused of robbing a flooded jewellery store. Additionally, around 15,000 homes are without electricity, although railway services between Valencia and Barcelona have resumed.

Among the victims is a 71-year-old British national who died in hospital, and the tragic loss of former Valencia CF player José Castillejo, 28, has also been confirmed. The football club paid tribute, stating, “We regret the death of José Castillejo, a victim of the Dana disasters. He was part of the club’s Academy until his youth stage and has played for several teams in the Valencian Community. RIP.”

Cars are half submerged in water that has not yet drained. Credit: AP.

The high death toll has sparked outrage among residents, many of whom believe authorities did not issue adequate warnings about the impending disaster. Dramatic footage shared on social media shows how rapidly the floodwaters overtook the streets, leaving little time for residents to escape. An off-duty police officer recounted how he saved two neighbours using a makeshift rope from bedsheets as the floods struck.

An emergency worker carries a child Credit: Getty.

As the community grapples with the aftermath of this disaster, the focus remains on locating the missing and providing support to those affected.