14:49
Spain deploys 7,500 troops to flood zone
Spain is deploying 7,500 troops to its eastern region hit by deadly floods, where at least 217 people have died
The death toll from devastating flash floods in eastern Spain rose to 158 on Thursday, with rescue teams still searching for those missing in what could be Europe’s deadliest storm-related disaster in over 50 years.
“There are 158 confirmed fatalities, plus dozens still unaccounted for,” said Angel Victor Torres, Spain’s minister for regional cooperation.
A year’s worth of rain fell in just eight hours on Tuesday in the Valencia region, marking Spain's worst flood-related disaster in recent history. Experts note that human-driven climate change is increasingly contributing to such extreme weather.
Opposition politicians criticized the Madrid government for a slow response, while the Interior Ministry stated that regional authorities are responsible for civil protection.
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09:30
Floods in Spain kill at least 95 people in Valencia region
At least 95 people have been killed in the deadliest flooding to hit Spain for three decades after torrential rain battered the eastern region of Valencia
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