Fears of ‘mass grave’ in Valencia car park after flood disaster as storms batter Majorca & 5,000 more troops deployed
Date: 2024-11-02A FLOODED underground car park in Valencia has sparked fears of a “mass grave” as almost torrential rain has battered the popular party island of Majorca.
The number of people killed by the floods has risen from 207 to 211 – and is expected to climb much higher as 2,000 people are still missing across Spain.
A view of the disaster area as search and rescue operations and aid delivery continue in Paiporta following the floods[/caption]
Around 15,000 homes remain without electricity and railway services between Valencia and Barcelona have reopened.
As bodies are identified stories are emerging about who they were, including a 71-year-old Brit who died in hospital.
Among those tragically killed in the horrific flash floods is a former Valencia CF player.
The Spanish football club has paid tributes to José Castillejo, 28, a midfielder who also played for teams like Torre Levante, Paterna and Eldense.
It said in a statement: “We regret the death of José Castillejo, a victim of the Dana disasters.
“He was part of the club’s Academy until his youth stage and has played for several teams in the Valencian Community. RIP.”
The horrifically high death toll has sparked outrage among residents, with some accusing Spanish authorities of not warning people about the dangers posed by the weather soon enough.
Dramatic footage has been shared of how the flash floods in Valencia turned roads into rivers in a matter of minutes.
Shocking footage shared on social media by residents of the Spanish city and surrounding areas comes as the death toll for the disaster hits 205.
Two clips shared online show the speed at which the devastating flash floods took over the streets and gave inhabitants little to no time to flee.
An off-duty police officer from Benetusser revealed how he saved the lives of two of his neighbours with a rope made of bedsheets when the flash floods hit the region.
On Saturday thousands of volunteers gathered at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia to begin the massive clean up in the worst-hit areas of the city.
The number of people who registered to help is at over 100,000, according to the Valencian Community Volunteer Platform.
Why was Spain hit by flooding?
Spain was hit by flash floods after the east of the country was hit by a meteorological phenomena known as a ‘DANA’.
A DANA, or a ‘cold drop’ is technically a system where there is an isolated depression in the atmosphere is at high levels.
In layman’s terms, more warm and moist Mediterranean air than usual was sucked high into the atmosphere after a cold system hit the country from the south.
The easterly wind then pushed all those clouds and rain into eastern Spain.
Three to four months of rain fell in some places over the space of 24 hours.
The DANA system hit southern Spain as it arrived from Morocco yesterday and is now expected to head west over southern Portugal.
