51 died after torrential rain in the Valencia region

At least 51 people are known to have died after torrential rain caused devastating floods in southeastern 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 definitive figure on the number of people who have died.

Footage uploaded to social media shows flooding causing havoc in the wider region, toppling bridges and dragging cars through streets. Other videos appear to show people clinging to trees to avoid being swept away.

A large part of the country has been hit hard by heavy rain and hailstorms, which have triggered flash floods across several areas.

More than 1,000 troops are being deployed to help with the rescue operation as dozens 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 victims’ families in a post on X.

Radio and television stations have reportedly received 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 hard-hit municipality of Letur, local official Milagros Tolon told Spanish public broadcaster TVE.

“The priority is to find these people,” she said.

The city of Chiva was among the first to experience severe flooding. Local media reported that the city’s streets on Tuesday at 18:00 (17:00 GMT) had turned into rivers, with cars, street lights and benches being swept away by the force of the water.

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 this warning, saying it came too late for people to get out of the way or seek refuge on the higher floors of their homes.

Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles told reporters that the flooding in 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 huge.”

Police have launched an emergency hotline and asked people to call 9006 5112 to report people who are missing.

“Practically speaking, all the main roads have been cut off and the secondary roads as well,” said a government representative for the region, Pilar Bernabe.

“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 save others.”

“If (emergency services) have not arrived, it is not because of a lack of funds, but a problem of access,” Valenica regional manager Carlos Mazon told a news conference, adding that it was “absolutely impossible to reach certain areas”.

Spanish weather service AEMET reported that Chiva in the Valencia region recorded 491mm of rain in just eight hours on Tuesday – equivalent to a year’s worth of rain.

It has declared a red alert in the Valencia region and the second-highest alert level in parts of Andalusia.

The floods have caused transport disruptions with several flights due to land in Valencia diverted to other cities and others cancelled. All train services are suspended in the Valencia region, national rail infrastructure operator ADIF said.

Valencia City Hall said all schools and sporting events were suspended Wednesday and parks will remain 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 1.1 degrees since the industrial era began, and temperatures will continue to rise unless governments around the world make drastic cuts in emissions.

Additional reporting from BBC Weather’s Matt Taylor.