Valencia: 155 flood deaths

Hundreds missing, 155 dead, 150 thousand people without electricity – terrible flooding in Valencia.

As a result of heavy rains, rivers in the Spanish province of Valencia overflowed their banks. In some areas, a year's worth of precipitation fell in one day. The suburbs of Valencia look like they were in the aftermath of an apocalypse: cars piled on top of each other, flooded streets and houses, devastated fields and gardens, destroyed bridges and trashed shops.

Testimonies from residents of Valencia, Spain, are shocking after deadly floods. The death toll has reached 155, and officials fear the toll will rise. In addition, forecasters predict new rains in a number of the most affected areas.

Some areas of Spain received a year's worth of rainfall in just eight hours on Tuesday. Spain's National Government Meteorological Agency (AEMET) said the Chica region of Valencia received an “unusually high” amount of rainfall in eight hours – 491 liters per square meter.

“When the water started to rise, it was like a wave. It was like a tsunami”says 21-year-old Guillermo Serrano Perez from Paiporta, near Valencia. On Tuesday evening, Guillermo was driving along the freeway with his parents when the water started pouring in. They were able to escape by abandoning the car to its fate and climbing onto the bridge.

Local couple Chiaro and Anthony spend the day clearing dirt from their home in Paiport. Anthony told the media: “When the alarm sounded, the water had already arrived. It was too late! A young man from our street was carried away in a car and drowned.”

A family with three children is walking along one of the dirty streets; they have found temporary shelter with relatives: “Our house is at the back, in a low place. All our cars and motorcycles are under water.”says the mother.

Many refugees from the suburbs found temporary housing in hotels in Valencia – the water did not reach the city center with its high-rise buildings.

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