Authorities said that at least 51 people died after torrential rain caused flash floods in south-eastern Spain, reports BBC.
However, the exact number of casualties is impossible to know at this stage, Carlós Mazón, the president of the country said. The rescue work is underway, president added.
The European country has been badly hit by heavy rain and hailstorms, triggering rapid flooding across multiple regions.
Footage uploaded to social media shows floodwaters causing chaos, knocking down bridges and dragging cars through the streets. Other video appeared to show people clinging to trees to avoid being swept away.
The Spanish Weather Service reported that Chiva, in the Valencia region, recorded 491mm of rain in just eight hours on Tuesday - the equivalent to a year's worth of rain.
Radio and TV stations have reportedly been receiving hundreds of calls for help from people trapped in flooded areas or searching for loved ones, as emergency services struggle to reach some areas.
Emergency services workers are using drones to search for the missing in the badly affected municipality of Letur, local official Milagros Tolon told Spanish public television station TVE.
“The priority is to find these people,” she said.
Local media reported that dozens of people in Valencia spent the night stranded in trucks or cars, as well as on rooftops and bridges, waiting to be rescued.
Spain's state weather agency AEMET has declared a red alert in the Valencia region and the second-highest level of alert in parts of Andalusia.
The floods have caused transport disruption with several flights due to land in Valencia diverted to other cities and others cancelled. All train services are suspended in the Valencia region, the national rail infrastructure operator ADIF said.
Valencia city hall said all schools and sporting events are suspended on Wednesday, and parks will stay closed.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a post on X he was following reports of missing people "with concern".
He urged people to follow the advice of the authorities, adding that people should "avoid unnecessary trips.
Bd-Pratidin English/ Afsar Munna
.jpg)
