Valencia, Spain – At least 62 people have died following severe flash floods that struck Spain’s southeastern region of Valencia on Tuesday. The unprecedented rainfall left buildings flooded, highways impassable, and entire towns isolated, the regional government of Valencia confirmed on Wednesday. The sudden surge of water trapped residents, washed away vehicles, and caused widespread devastation, with authorities warning that the death toll may rise as search efforts continue.

The flash floods were triggered by record-breaking rainfall, with up to 12 inches of rain falling in several areas across southeastern and eastern Spain within hours on Tuesday. Videos circulating on social media captured scenes of streets in Valencia overwhelmed by torrents of muddy water, while cars, vans, and other debris were swept away in towns like Utiel and Paiporta as nearby rivers breached their banks.

For many residents, the deluge struck without warning, leaving them trapped on first floors and in basements with no means of escape. Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles described the incident as an “unprecedented phenomenon,” and confirmed that more than 1,000 military personnel had been deployed to assist in rescue operations. “We are using every available resource to help,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated on Wednesday, urging people to remain vigilant as additional rainstorms are expected in the coming days.

Carlos Mazón, the regional leader of Valencia, cautioned residents in Valencia and Castellón provinces to avoid road travel as many highways were rendered unusable by the floodwaters. Mazón reported that some bodies were recovered after rescue teams reached previously inaccessible areas, though he declined to release details out of respect for the families. The flooding damaged infrastructure across the region, with vehicles abandoned in traffic picked up and carried by the powerful currents, compounding the chaos as emergency responders struggled to access affected areas.

Among those caught in the deluge, local resident Antonio Carmona described the harrowing moments as he witnessed cars, garbage cans, and parts of buildings swept away. “We saw everything being washed down the street. The water took cars and even half of a neighbor’s house,” Carmona told reporters. Clutching his torn clothing, he recalled how he and others had saved dogs caught in the rising floodwaters.

In Torrent, a city near Valencia, Beatriz Garrote recounted her experience of being trapped in her car for hours. Driving home from work on Tuesday evening, Garrote found herself stranded on a ring road with water rapidly rising around her. “I was terrified,” Garrote said, as her car was encircled by floodwaters. “After just 10 minutes, the water was already halfway up the car’s wheels,” she said. With no exits available, she and other drivers were left to wait until the waters receded.

The Valencia region typically receives an average of three inches of rain in October, but towns like Chiva recorded over 12 inches in just four hours, according to the European Severe Weather Database. Flooding also impacted the cities of Murcia and Malaga, where some areas received over four inches of rain.

Spain’s Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued ongoing warnings for heavy rainfall through the week, as climate experts link the intensity of these storms to human-driven climate change. Elevated global temperatures and warmer oceans are intensifying rainfall events, experts say, increasing the likelihood of such catastrophic flooding in the future.