ALBAWABA- Valencia, Spain, is under a state of emergency after experiencing unprecedented flooding, with some areas seeing nearly 13 inches of rain in just four hours. The death toll from the floods across the region has tragically risen to 72.
Valencia has been hardest hit, with 70 fatalities, while two additional deaths have been reported in Castilla-La Mancha, south of Madrid.
The torrential downpours, which began Tuesday, brought a year’s worth of rain in just eight hours in some areas. Streets in towns such as Turís and Utiel turned into rapid torrents, trapping people in vehicles and buildings.
Train services to Madrid and Barcelona have been halted, and heavy rains have affected regions near Gibraltar and along Spain’s eastern coast.
Emergency alerts have been issued for the Cirat-Vallat dam in Castellón, north of Valencia, as officials warn it could burst. The town of Vila-real has activated emergency protocols, urging residents near the Mijares River to evacuate.