Laurence Dollimore
THE Prime Minister of Spain has issued a statement regarding the flooding and extreme weather currently affecting large parts of the country.
Pedro Sanchez said he is following updates ‘closely’ and ‘with concern’, particularly in regard to those who remain missing in Valencia and Albacete (Castilla La-Mancha).
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The PSOE leader wrote on X: “I am closely following, with concern, the reports on missing persons and the damage caused by the DANA in recent hours.
“All emergency services, @proteccioncivil, @UMEgob and personnel from @policia
and @guardiacivil are being deployed in response to the storm. Let’s follow their instructions.
“Be very careful and avoid unnecessary trips.”
There is at least one person missing in Valencia and four missing from Albacete, although there are fears that number will rise.
The worst hit regions are Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and parts of Andalucia.
People across all three have been asked to remain indoors and avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.
The dramatic conditions are being caused by a so-called DANA, a high area of isolated depression that typically brings heavy rainfall and a drop in temperatures.
It has discharged more than 300 litres per square metre in the Valencian region of Utiel-Requena, an amount described as ‘historic’ and which has caused the Magro River to overflow.
Meanwhile, a tornado has left residents in Benifaio stunned, as has a flood which has devastated Chiva.
The army has been roped in to rescue residents trapped in their homes in Valencia.
Many of them have been pulled from their roofs by helicopter, a task made extremely difficult in the current conditions.
In L’Alcudia (Valencia), a truck driver who vanished during the worst of the storm remains among the missing.
In Benifaio (Valencia) a tornado tore through the village tonight, leaving residents stunned.
In one clip shared on X, debris can be seen swirling into the sky as the column of air blows over a Repsol petrol station.
People can be seen running inside the garage as the weather phenomenon begins to pass over them.
Another video shows chairs, tables and other objects swirling around an apartment terrace as the tornado passes by.
The items are sent smashing into the terrace doors, almost forcing them open.
Elsewhere in Valencia, a bridge was filmed being completely destroyed by a river surge.
The wet weather is expected to last until Thursday, although today is predicted to bring the worst of the conditions.
