New warnings

Aerial photos show destruction in Spain

After the heavy rainfall and devastating floods on Tuesday in the east and south of Spain, the situation remains difficult. The rescue work continues. Entire villages are covered in mud. More and more soldiers are helping. The number of volunteers is also growing.

(Bild: AFP)

Following the flood disaster in Spain, the death toll has risen to over 200. As people are still missing, the number of victims is expected to rise further. Aerial photos from the disaster area show the extent of the devastation in the eastern Spanish province of Valencia (see video above). In many cases, mourning ceremonies have not yet taken place. Traffic restrictions have been imposed.

The government of the Spanish Mediterranean region of Valencia has ordered traffic restrictions to make it easier for the emergency services to respond to the storms. From Saturday and for an initial period of 48 hours, traffic will only be permitted on the main roads around the affected towns in specially justified cases, announced Vicente Martínez Mus, the official responsible for infrastructure. 

There is alack of food and electricity
There is a lack of food, water, electricity and even shovels in many places in the affected regions. Spain's Defense Minister Margarita Robles wants to send even more soldiers to the areas destroyed by the storms than the 1,700 already deployed, adding to the number as long as necessary for rescue and reconstruction work.

Destroyed cars and broken tracks in Sedavi (Valencia province)

(Bild: AP)

After the heavy rainfall and devastating floods on Tuesday in the east and south of Spain, the situation remains difficult. The rescue work continues. Entire villages are covered in mud. More and more soldiers are helping. The number of volunteers is also growing.

(Bild: AFP)

Now the big clean-up begins.

(Bild: APA/AP)

Distribution of relief supplies to the population of Valencia

(Bild: APA/AP)

Destroyed cars and broken tracks in Sedavi (Valencia province)

(Bild: APA/AP)

(Bild: APA/AP)

(Bild: APA/AP)

Minister of Defense: "No limits to resources"
Communities and towns in the Mediterranean region of Valencia near the city of the same name have been particularly affected. Robles named the towns of Ribarroja, Paiporta and Algemesí, where the military has not yet been deployed and where forces are now being sent.

More and more volunteers are helping with
More and more volunteers are also coming together, for example in the city of Valencia, as reported by the newspaper "Las Provincias". They are coordinating via social media, collecting donations to distribute in affected areas of the city and helping with the clean-up work with equipment. They are also looking for helpers with large vans and shovels, brooms and similar items.

The first points of contact have been set up for people coming into the city from surrounding villages, often covered in mud and on foot over a bridge - in search of food, drinking water or shelter, as RTVE reported. 

Funeral services often not possible
Many people have not yet been able to say goodbye to their deceased loved ones. After the autopsy, the identified and unidentified victims are brought to the Feria de Valencia. A 1300 square meter temporary mortuary has been set up in the large exhibition hall in the regional capital.

Three days of national mourning declared
The storms in Spain were triggered by the weather phenomenon "cold drop" (gota fría). It occurs frequently in the Spanish Mediterranean region in the months of September and October and is based on strongly fluctuating sea and air temperatures. The phenomenon occurs when the first Atlantic lows with cold, damp air move over the warm Mediterranean. The central government in Madrid declared three days of national mourning from Thursday. It assured those affected of rapid help with reconstruction.

Heavy rainfall now also reached Mallorca
On Friday afternoon, the low-pressure system reached the Balearic island of Mallorca. Heavy showers were the result. Palma de Mallorca Airport had to contend with hours of delays. As a precautionary measure, the Spanish weather service Aemet issued an orange warning for All Saints' Day for the entire archipelago, which also includes Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Cabrera. The government of the Balearic Islands advised against all outdoor activities. The weather is expected to remain changeable over the next few days, although it is unlikely to rain as heavily.