Death toll in Spain's floods rises to 158

Flash floods in eastern Spain have left 158 dead, with more missing. Record rainfall devastated the Valencia region, sparking criticism of emergency response amid rising climate concerns.

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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