What to know about the unprecedented floods that killed more than 200 in Spain
In a matter of minutes, flash floods caused by heavy downpours in eastern Spain swept away everything in their path
MADRID (AP) — In a matter of minutes, flash floods caused by heavy downpours in eastern Spain swept away everything in their path. With no time to react, people were trapped in vehicles, homes and businesses. Many died and thousands saw livelihoods shattered.
Four days later, authorities have recovered 211 bodies — most of them in the eastern Valencia region. They continued to search for an unknown number of missing people on Friday.
Thousands of volunteers were helping to clear away the thick layers of mud and debris that still covered houses, streets and roads, all while facing power and water cuts and shortages of some basic goods. Inside some of the vehicles that the water washed into piles or crashed into buildings, there were still bodies waiting to be identified.
Here are a few things to know about Spain’s deadliest storm in living memory:
