Latest floods in Spain: 5,000 more soldiers deployed as satellite photos show extent of devastation

Cars and furniture lay piled in mud as deadly floods hit Spain

Another 5,000 troops will be sent to the flooded Valencia region to support the “largest operation by the armed forces in Spain in peacetime,” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.

The troops, along with 5,000 additional police officers and the 2,500 soldiers already on the ground, will lead the search and cleanup effort as Spain suffers the worst flood disaster in its modern history.

In a televised statement on Saturday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the number of people killed had risen to 211. He said the government would “mobilize all necessary resources as long as they are needed,” with more bodies believed to be among the devastation.

Before and after satellite images have emerged showing the extent of the devastation in Valencia. Huge swathes of land are covered in a brown swamp of muddy water after Tuesday’s torrential rains.

Officials said the death toll was likely to continue rising, with most deaths so far in Valencia, the eastern region that has borne the brunt of the devastation.

New weather warnings apply to the east coast of Spain and the western border with Portugal. Rainfall is expected to continue through the weekend.

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Satellite photos show the extent of the devastation in the eastern Valencia region

Valencia's water treatment plant and the V30 highway before and after deadly flash floods — Valencia’s water treatment plant and the V30 highway before and after deadly flash floods (Satellite image ©2024 Maxar Tech)

The city of Valencia before and after the devastating floods on Tuesday and Wednesday (Sentinel Hub/AFP via Getty Image)

Alex CroftNovember 2, 2024 4:06 p.m

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“Everything is destroyed”: consequences of deadly flash floods in Spain

Alex CroftNovember 2, 2024 3:43 p.m

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‘Everything looks apocalyptic’: Spain’s flood victim says her entire home was flooded in less than 10 minutes

Alba Paredes Borja is from the Spanish town of Alfafar, one of the areas hardest hit by the deadly storm, where local authorities are appealing for urgent help in obtaining food, water and medical supplies.

“I’m scared. “Everything looks apocalyptic,” she said The Independent. The floods – known as the “cold drop” or DANA phenomenon – claimed 158 lives, including at least three people in the community, and left the city in ruins and cut off from all communications.

Alex CroftNovember 2, 2024 3:21 p.m

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“Where is the help? “My city has turned into a cemetery” – today’s front page

One flood victim spoke to The Independent and said they had been “let down”." — One flood victim spoke to The Independent and said he had been “let down”. (The Independent)

Alex CroftNovember 2, 2024 2:57 p.m

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Spanish soccer player remembers victims after scoring goal

CA Osasuna footballer Ante Budimir has paid tribute to the victims of the most devastating floods in Spain’s modern history.

This happened on Saturday during a La Liga match between CA Osasuna and Real Valladolid CF at Estadio El Sadar in Pamplona.

The T-shirt roughly translates to “Strong Valencia”.

CA Osasuna's Ante Budimir celebrates after scoring a goal during a LaLiga match — CA Osasuna’s Ante Budimir celebrates after scoring a goal during a LaLiga match (Getty Images)

Alex CroftNovember 2, 2024 2:30 p.m

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In pictures: The clean-up work amid the devastation continues

Butcher clears mud from his shop on Saturday morning (AFP via Getty Images)

A firefighter clears the water from an underpass to search for bodies in the rubble (AFP via Getty Images)

Firefighters wade in the water as they search for victims under a bridge (REUTERS)

Alex CroftNovember 2, 2024 2:04 p.m

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Satellite images from NASA show the extent of the flooding

Satellite images from NASA Earth have shown the extent of flooding in the Valencia province in eastern Spain.

In a post on These #Landsat images show the extent of flooding on October 30, 2024.”

Alex CroftNovember 2, 2024 1:29 p.m

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“Largest military operation in peacetime,” says Prime Minister

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he was launching the “largest operation by the armed forces in Spain in peacetime.”

In a televised statement on Saturday morning, he announced that the government would send 5,000 more army soldiers and 5,000 more police officers to help with the search and cleanup efforts.

This is in addition to the 2,500 troops already stationed in the region.

“The government will mobilize all necessary resources as long as they are needed,” Mr. Sanchez added.

The major response came after Europe’s worst flooding disaster since 1967, in which at least 500 people died in Portugal.

Pedro Sanchez made an institutional statement on Saturday (EPA)

Alex CroftNovember 2, 2024 1:01 p.m

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The death toll rises to 211

The death toll from the devastating floods in Spain has risen to 211.

Four days after torrential rains swept the eastern Valencia region, dozens were still reported, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.

Alex CroftNovember 2, 2024 12:48 p.m

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Watch: Woman and baby are brought to safety from flash floods in Spain using a metal cage attached to a helicopter

Emergency services have shared footage of the woman and one-year-old baby being rescued after their home was inundated by water on Thursday (October 31).

It captures the moment a military emergency unit rescues the woman using a metal cage attached to a helicopter.

The official number of people killed by the flood disaster has risen dramatically to 158.

Spain’s prime minister urged residents to stay at home as he warned the devastation was “not yet over” and declared Valencia a “disaster area”.

Elderly woman and baby airlifted to safety amid Spanish flash floods

Lucy LeesonNovember 2, 2024 12:28 p.m

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