The death toll from Spain’s catastrophic floods this week has surged to 205, as the country scrambles to contain the crisis. The region of Valencia, which has seen the highest fatalities, reported an increase to 202 deaths by Friday, making this one of Spain’s deadliest floods in recent history. The Spanish government has mobilized additional troops to support local emergency responders, anticipating further rain that could exacerbate the devastation.

The Spanish meteorological agency, Aemet, has issued an amber alert for four regions, including Valencia, indicating the continued risk of severe weather. Rivers of muddy water and debris have torn through communities, leaving a landscape of destruction. Aemet cautioned that the adverse conditions would persist, stating on social media that “the meteorological emergency is not over.” This warning underscores the ongoing challenges for both residents and emergency teams, who face extensive recovery and rescue operations amid unpredictable weather patterns.

As the full extent of the damage becomes apparent, countless roads remain impassable, and the number of missing people is still undetermined. The initial emergency response saw the deployment of over 1,000 soldiers to assist local services, with Spain’s defense minister, Margarita Robles, confirming an additional 500 troops are en route to the region. These soldiers will be working on vital tasks such as evacuating individuals from flooded basements and pumping water from key roads to restore supply lines for essential goods like food and water.

In response to the scale of fatalities, a mobile morgue has been set up, and psychologists and specialized recovery teams have joined the effort to locate bodies. “This storm is a horrific, unprecedented disaster,” Robles said, highlighting the devastation as one of Spain’s worst weather events of recent decades. Thousands of residents remain stranded, many without access to clean water or sufficient food supplies, as significant areas are still cut off from assistance.

The municipality of Alfafar, south of Valencia, is one of the hardest-hit areas, with Mayor Juan Ramón Adsuara urgently appealing for aid. In many areas, limited or no assistance has reached residents, leading locals to band together for survival. Residents have used private machinery to clear debris and ventured into dangerous conditions to fetch supplies from nearby cities. “We’re running out of everything,” Adsuara told local media, stressing the dire need for outside help to support the isolated community.

As the rain threatens to continue, the situation in Spain’s flood-ravaged areas remains critical. Residents are calling for greater support, and emergency teams are working relentlessly to mitigate the impact of this disaster.