STORY: Scores of people have been killed in some of Spain’s worst floods in recent history.
Meteorologists say a year’s worth of rain had fallen in eight hours in parts of the eastern region of Valencia Tuesday.
Authorities plan for more rescue operations on Thursday, and the death toll is expected to rise.
In Utiel, locals combed through the mud and debris, cleaning up what’s left of their livelihoods.
60-year-old teacher Encarna got emotional as she spoke about the pain she felt for all those who lost their lives in the flooding.
Another Utiel resident, grocer Amadeo Ibanez, said he felt powerless, as the river rose in half an hour and he lost almost everything in that time.
Many of Valencia’s farmlands were submerged.
The region is a key citrus producer in the country, accounting for almost two-thirds of the citrus fruit grown in Spain, a leading global exporter.
One of Spain’s largest farmer groups on Tuesday said it expected significant damage to crops.
Roads were closed and rail services to Madrid and Barcelona were halted due to the rain.
In a televised address, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez promised to rebuild infrastructure that was destroyed.
Scientists say extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to climate change.
Meteorologists think the warming of the Mediterranean, which increases water evaporation, is key to causing more severe rains.
