The Holy Metropolis of Spain and Portugal issued a message of support to the affected residents of the flood-affected areas in Valencia.
“The Metropolis of Spain and Portugal prays for the victims of the devastating bad weather that hit the region of Valencia and wishes for God’s comfort,” the message reads.
It is noted that the death toll from the floods that swept through southeastern Spain this week now stands at 158, according to an official announcement by the rescue services posted on the X Social Media network.
Based on this death toll, which is not final, 155 victims have been counted in the worst-hit region of Valencia alone, two more deaths were recorded in the neighboring region of Castile-La Mancha and one in Andalusia.
The press release did not specify the number of people who remain missing. The previous report by the authorities, on Wednesday, spoke of 95 dead.
The deadliest floods in Spain’s modern history have swept through the eastern region of Valencia after torrential rains hit the region on Tuesday and Wednesday, submerging roads and towns in muddy water.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez today called on residents of the Valencia region, which has been badly damaged by deadly floods, to “stay in their homes” as the danger remains.
As King Felipe VI of Spain had done shortly before from Madrid, Sanchez stressed that the episode of bad weather that caused the floods “continues” and called on all those living in the affected areas to exercise the utmost vigilance. “The priority at this time is to find the victims,” who are still under the rubble, “and the missing,” Prime Minister Sánchez told reporters at the end of a visit to Valencia, the capital of the region of the same name that recorded the highest number of victims.
Prime Minister Sánchez did not specify the number of missing persons, but the Spanish press estimates that there are dozens.
“The most important thing is for citizens to realize that (the episode of bad weather) is not over,” he said, calling on residents of the province of Valencia and those of Castile, just to the north, to “stay in their homes, don’t go out.” and follow the messages of the emergency services.
He was referring to the fact that the weather service Aemet issued on Thursday morning a red alert (the highest level of alert) for this province of Castile, one of the three that make up the autonomous region of Valencia.
The government is speaking about “dozens and dozens” of people missing from the floods
As of Thursday night, there were still “dozens and dozens” of people missing in southeastern Spain, 48 hours after unprecedented flooding killed 158 people, a minister said.
It is the first time that the Spanish authorities have given an even vague estimate of the number of missing persons.
“We already have 155 dead in the Valencia region, two in Castile-La Mancha, and one in Andalusia, that is a total of 158 people. Dozens and dozens of missing people are added to them,” said Minister of Regional Policy Ángel Victor Torres, in a press conference he gave in Madrid.
Minister Torres said the government had agreed to put “all military means” at the disposal of the Valencian authorities, mainly to distribute aid and open roads so rescuers could reach “every corner” of the flooded zone.
This request was made by the President of the Valencia region, Carlos Mazón.
Minister Torres also announced that 39 people had been arrested and that the security forces would show zero tolerance “against looting and other crimes”