Spain death toll tops 200, troops deployed to flood areas

The death toll following severe storms in Spain passed 200 on Friday as the government promised to send in hundreds more troops to help residents of flood-hit areas.

There were at least 202 victims from the eastern region of Valencia alone, the regional government's emergency services posted on X.

The authorities have stated that two more people lost their lives in the region of Castile-La Mancha, and there was one fatality in the region of Andalusia. They had previously reported a total of 158 confirmed deaths.

Dozens of people are still missing.

Defence Minister Margarita Robles said on the broadcaster RTVE that they expect to potentially find more bodies in vehicles. During the storm on Tuesday, numerous vehicles were stranded in the flash floods.

Robles said an additional 500 soldiers have been sent to the affected region, primarily to the coastal city of Valencia and surrounding areas. More than 1,200 soldiers are already deployed in addition to the rescue services.

The troops will work to reach every affected village, Robles continued.

In the greater Valencia area, 80 kilometres of roads and local transport connections have been destroyed, Transport Minister Óscar Puente said.

First responders carry out a body, after it was found in a parking lot, as crews look for other victims after deadly flooding in the Valencia region, in Catarroja, Spain. - Reuters

Municipalities like Catarroja to the south of the city of Valencia, which can still not be accessed by road, are preparing to provide residents with essentials.

Catarroja Mayor Lorena Silvent told RVTE: "Everything is welcome; food, drinking water, equipment to repair the water supply, clothing." She noted that power and telecommunications had not been fully restored in all areas.

Silvent is planning to set up supply points in the town of almost 30,000 residents for distributing donations. A 24-hour reception point for medical supplies is also being planned. The mayor did not say when state aid to clear blocked streets could be expected.

Juan Ramón Adsuara, mayor of the neighbouring municipality of Alfafar, told broadcaster À Punt: "We had to clear out a supermarket to distribute food to the people."

There were still people in the municipality of 20,000 living with dead bodies in their homes, he said.

An increasing number of volunteers are gathering in Valencia, collecting donations for distribution in the affected areas, the Las Provincias newspaper reported. They are also assisting with the clean-up.

Reception centres have been set up to provide food and water to people arriving on foot covered in mud from surrounding areas, RTVE reported. - dpa