The two clubs visit UD Aldaia CF and CF Atlético Sedaví partner schools affected by the flooding last year The collaboration between Valencia CF and the Chicago Bears continued last week with a visit to the towns of Aldaia and Sedaví -areas seriously affected by the DANA tragedy last year explained to the Chicago Bears representatives the problems caused by the natural disaster “It was a pleasure to see the kindness and enthusiasm with which they came here to learn about everything that had happened It's very important that a team from the United States has come here,” Bossio said they looked at the facilities of the partner schools “It's not easy to deal with when you're used to something and and everyone's circumstances are different This puts you in a difficult situation as a child and as a family Seeing all the help they received from the community was It's not easy for people to be encouraged to change something or to recover something The opportunity it gives the children is a positive thing It's something I will definitely always want to support,” explained Chicago Bears captain Tremaine Edmunds Related news Ver todas The pitch has been restored thanks to donations from LALIGA EA SPORTS and contributions to the ‘FILA CERO SOLIDARIA’ Latest news Ver todas The defender talks over the win in Gran Canaria The Valencia CF coach analyses the win over UD Las Palmas 202412:16 AM UTCWashed away in minutes: Devastating scenes from the Spanish flood aftermathThe floods engulfed streets and lower floors of buildings The tragedy is already Europe's worst flood-related disaster in a single country since 1967 [1/50]A member of Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME) embraces a local woman in Sedavi [3/50]Damaged cars are seen along a road affected by torrential rains that caused flooding [5/50]A member of Spanish civil guard searches for the victims in a car laying on rail road tracks after heavy rains in Alfafar [8/50]A firefighter reacts as he searches for victims next to damaged cars in Alfafar [9/50]A view shows vehicles marked by firefighters with a code indicating that they have searched for casualties [10/50]A man looks at a mud-covered street with piled up cars in the aftermath of torrential rains that caused flooding [11/50]People walk on rail road tracks next to piled up cars after heavy rains in Alfafar hold their mud-covered hands outside their home following floods in Utiel [13/50]Members of the Spanish military work to clean a street covered with mud and debris [14/50]Magda Ramon asks for help to clean her house to members of the Spanish military [15/50]A view of mud and debris at La Torre neighborhood in Valencia an elderly woman who got injured after falling down due to a power outage [17/50]A member of Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME) walks near Valencia [18/50]A firefighter checks inside a vehicle at a flooded garage looking for possible flooding victims in Alfafar [19/50]Search and rescue team members and a member of the Spanish Civil Guard look for bodies More in this CollectionSee all picturesItem 21 of 50 Firefighters wade in water as they search for victims under a bridge in Alfafar REUTERS/Susana Vera[21/50]Firefighters wade in water as they search for victims under a bridge in Alfafar , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved deadly flash floods in eastern Spain have roiled the region on since Tuesday The floods, brought about by torrential rains, killed at least 155 in the province of Valencia, regional emergency services said A yellow storm warning was still in place across Valencia's province as of Thursday, they said Though heavy rains are common in the region in fall — part of a phenomenon known as "cold drops" — this was extreme the worst of the 21st century and more severe than anything since 1987 It said that Tuesday was the worst day of the storm but that bad weather would continue throughout the week Images and videos from the region showed brown water surging through fields The flooding seemed not to strongly hit Valencia the regional hub and Spain's third-largest city the owner described the flood damage as "horrendous" in a phone call told Business Insider that a nearby river overflowed and reached their street in only ten minutes Power cuts meant all their stock had to be thrown out Insurers are still reckoning with what the cost of the disaster may be — one early estimate placed it easily in the billions of euros Per a Spanish government briefing the most significant industry in Valencia is automaking It was not immediately clear whether particular industries or companies were severely affected by the floods the communications director for Ford Spain told BI that her company's Valencia plant had not suffered direct damage from the floods but would be shut down on Wednesday and Thursday At a press conference on Thursday Spain's transport minister said it would take three weeks to restore the damaged railway line connecting Valencia to Madrid On Tuesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was closely following reports of missing people and damage caused by the storm and that all emergency services were being dispatched in response to the storm The provisional death toll of the floods put it among the most serious natural disasters in Western Europe in recent years According to a report from the Aon Spain Foundation a private nonprofit foundation that works to prevent and assist with natural disasters in Spain the annual cost of natural disasters in Spain was estimated to range from around $940 million to $2.5 billion from 2016 to 2021 In an X post on Wednesday the city of Valencia's mayor said the province was facing one of the "most difficult and painful" moments in its history In an address on Thursday Sánchez said all the emergency services that have been dispatched are working around the clock to find missing people and victims' bodies and ensure all the residents can go back to their homes as soon as possible He urged all residents to stay home as the storm continues the most important thing is to safeguard as many lives as possible and to guarantee as many lives as possible in this dramatic tragic crisis that we are experiencing," he said The government has declared three days of national mourning, from Thursday until Saturday. You don't have permission to access the page you requested. What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. The flooding has left behind post-apocalyptic scenes I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Francisco Murgui went out to try to salvage his motorbike when the water started to rise One week after catastrophic flooding devasted eastern Spain, Marïa Murgui still holds out hope that her father is alive and among the unknown number of the missing “He was like many people in town who went out to get their car or motorbike to safety,” the 27-year-old told The Associated Press. “The flash flood caught him outside and he had to cling to a tree in order to escape drowning But when Marïa set out into the streets of Sedavi to try to rescue him from the water washing away everything in its path “He held up until 1 in the morning,” she said I went outside with a neighbor and a rope to try to locate him At least 218 have been confirmed dead after a deluge caused by heavy rains late on Oct. 29 and the next morning swamped entire communities, mostly in Spain’s Valencia region, catching most off guard. Regional authorities have been heavily criticized for having issued alerts to mobile phones some two hours after the disaster had started. Authorities have yet to any give an estimate of the missing seven days on. Spanish state broadcaster RTVE, however, shows a steady stream of appeals by people who are searching for family members who are not accounted for.Maria Murgui herself has posted a missing person’s message on social media with a photo of her father, a 57-year-old retiree. “This is like riding a rollercoaster. Sometimes I feel very bad and sometimes I feel better. I try to stay positive,” she said. “This truly is madness. We don’t know what else to do. Neither does anybody else in town.” While many search for their loved ones, the gargantuan recovery efforts in Sedavi and more than 60 other communities slowly moves forward. The floods have let behind post-apocalyptic scenes. Street after street in town after town is still covered with thick brown mud and mounds of ruined belongings, clumps of rotting vegetation, and wrecked vehicles. A stench arises from the muck. In many places, people still face shortages of basic goods, and lines form at impromptu emergency kitchens and stands handing out food. Water is running again but authorities say it is not fit for drinking. The ground floors of thousands of homes have been ruined. It is feared that inside some of the vehicles that the water washed away or trapped in underground garages there could be bodies waiting to be recovered. Thousands of soldiers are working with firefighters and police reinforcements in the immense emergency response. Officers and troops are searching in destroyed homes, the countless cars strewn across highways, streets, or lodged in the mud in canals and gorges. Authorities are worried about other health problems caused by the aftermath of the deadliest natural disaster in Spain’s recent history. They have urged people to get tetanus shots and to treat any wounds to prevent infections and to clean the mud from their skin. Many people wear face masks. Thousands of volunteers are helping out, filling the void left by authorities. But the frustration over the crisis management boiled over on Sunday when a crowd in hard-hit Paiporta hurled mud and other objects at Spain’s royals, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and regional officials when they made their first visit to the epicenter of the flood damage. Sanchez’s national government is set to announce a new package of relief on Tuesday. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies {"adUnitPath":"71347885/_main_independent/gallery","autoGallery":true,"disableAds":false,"gallery":[{"data":{"title":"SEI228254307.jpg","description":"A member of Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME) embraces with a local woman, in the aftermath of floods caused by heavy rains, in Sedavi, near Valencia, Spain","caption":"A member of Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME) embraces with a local woman, in the aftermath of floods caused by heavy rains, in Sedavi, near Valencia, Spain A member of Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME) embraces with a local woman, in the aftermath of floods caused by heavy rains, in Sedavi, near Valencia, Spain Mayor of Sedaví: “We will never forget this act of solidarity to help us rebuild our town” has signed an agreement with the Sedaví Town Hall and CF Atlético Sedaví—a partner academy of the VCF Academy—to rebuild and restore the football field at the Sedaví Municipal Sports Complex which was devastated by the DANA storm in October This initiative is part of the ‘UNITS COM SEMPRE’ solidarity campaign dedicated to supporting football and backed by the Valencianista community through the FILA CERO SOLIDARIA The effort is also supported by funds from ticket sales of the Valencia CF vs which were matched by both Valencia CF’s majority shareholder Additional support has come from LALIGA through EA Sports as well as other organizations and institutions The Sedaví Municipal Sports Complex was among the most severely affected by the storm This reconstruction follows the restoration of the Jaume Ortí Municipal Sports Complex in Aldaia Valencia CF and the Fundació VCF will soon announce the refurbishment of other football fields in the province of Valencia This initiative will directly benefit over 250 children allowing them to gradually regain the necessary resources to resume their physical contributing to their physical and emotional development Today's print edition Home Delivery Spain braced for a heavier human toll on Wednesday after 95 people died in flash floods that launched muddy waters through towns Rescuers were expected to find more bodies in the European country's deadliest flood in more than 50 years and three days of official mourning were due to start on Thursday.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); Heavy downpours and fierce winds have lashed Spain since the beginning of the week after a storm formed over the Mediterranean Sea with up to a year's worth of rain falling in just hours in some areas In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division. causing major flooding and destruction.left to right: Debris and damaged household items cover a street in the flood-hit municipality of Paiporta Cars piled in the street with other debris after flash floods hit the Sedaví area of Valencia Residents clean the streets in the La Torre neighbourhood of Valencia after a deluge brought up to 200 litres of rain per square metre 5 min readPublished 31 October 2024 6:51am ShareGet SBS News daily and direct to your InboxSign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.Your email address *Morning (Mon–Fri) You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image Meteorologists said a year's worth of rain had fallen in eight hours in parts of Valencia on Tuesday (local time) causing pile-ups on highways and submerging farmland in a region that produces two-thirds of the citrus fruit grown in Spain Residents in the worst-hit places described seeing people clambering on to the roofs of their cars as a churning tide of brown water gushed through the streets uprooting trees and dragging away chunks of masonry from buildings "It's a river that came through," said Denis Hlavaty who waited for rescue on a ledge in the petrol station where he works in the regional capital "The doors were torn away and I spent the night there surrounded by water that was two metres deep." Defence Minister Margarita Robles told Cadena Ser radio station that a military unit specialised in rescue operations would on Thursday start combing through the mud and debris with sniffer dogs in the worst-hit areas Asked if the number of victims was likely to increase she said: "Unfortunately we are not optimistic" The teams have brought with them 50 mobile morgues Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez promised to rebuild infrastructure that has been destroyed and said in a televised address: "For those who at this moment are still looking for their loved ones Footage shot by emergency services from a helicopter showed bridges that had collapsed and cars and trucks piled on top of each other on highways between flooded fields outside the city of Valencia Trains to the cities of Madrid and Barcelona were cancelled due to the flooding and schools and other essential services were suspended in the worst-hit areas said about 150,000 clients in Valencia had no electricity Emergency services in the region urged citizens to avoid all road travel and to follow further official advice Some parts of Valencia area such as the towns of Turis Chiva or Bunol recorded more than 400mm of rainfall leading the state weather agency AEMET to declare a red alert on Tuesday It was lowered to amber on Wednesday as the rain eased There was also flooding in other parts of the country including the southern region of Andalusia and forecasters warned of more bad weather ahead as the storm moved in a northeasterly direction they took away everything," said Antonio Carmona a construction worker and resident of Alora in Andalusia which includes three people in other regions appeared to be the worst in Europe from flooding since 2021 when at least 185 people died in Germany It is possibly Spain's worst in its modern history as the number of victims surpassed 87 people killed in a 1996 flood near the town of Biescas in the Pyrenees mountains dozens of people died in floods in the city of Valencia which led to the construction of a new course of the Turia river to prevent floods in the city centre said a 71-year-old British man had died in hospital of heart failure after being rescued from his flooded home in Malaga while suffering from hypothermia European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X that Europe was ready to help "What we're seeing in Spain is devastating," she said on X said on Tuesday it expected significant damage to crops Spain is the world's largest exporter of fresh and dried oranges according to trade data provider the Observatory of Economic Complexity and Valencia accounts for about 60% of the country's citrus production according to Valencian Institute of Agriculture Investigations Scientists say extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to climate change Meteorologists think the warming of the Mediterranean plays a key role in making torrential rains more severe are now becoming more frequent and their destructive capacity is greater," said Ernesto Rodriguez Camino senior state meteorologist and a member of the Spanish Meteorological Association Rescuers are scrambling to find dozens of people missing after deadly flash floods ripped across southern and eastern Spain Some areas received up to 12 inches of rain in just a few hours The majority of deaths are in the Valencia region which saw its heaviest rainfall in 28 years inundated highways and forced people to flee to rooftops to wait for rescuers '+n.escapeExpression("function"==typeof(o=null!=(o=r(e,"eyebrowText")||(null!=l?r(l,"eyebrowText"):l))?o:n.hooks.helperMissing)?o.call(null!=l?l:n.nullContext||{},{name:"eyebrowText",hash:{},data:t,loc:{start:{line:28,column:63},end:{line:28,column:78}}}):o)+" \n '+(null!=(o=c(e,"if").call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2PreText"):l,{name:"if",hash:{},fn:n.program(32,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:63,column:20},end:{line:63,column:61}}}))?o:"")+"\n"+(null!=(o=(c(e,"ifAll")||l&&c(l,"ifAll")||n.hooks.helperMissing).call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Text"):l,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Link"):l,{name:"ifAll",hash:{},fn:n.program(34,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:64,column:20},end:{line:70,column:30}}}))?o:"")+" At least 95 people have been killed by severe flash floods in Spain as emergency responders scramble to find dozens of missing people In the worst affected region of Valencia Spain's Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory Among the dead is a 71-year-old British man who died from hypothermia in Malaga Authorities said they are working to identify the victims This comes after several locations in southern and eastern Spain received up to 300mm of rain in just a few hours on Tuesday in what marked the worst rainfall in Valencia in 28 years The Valencia region was thrown into a state of chaos with most highways becoming completely unusable on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning Vehicles that had been left abandoned in traffic were picked up by the water and moved around Videos posted by several rescue agencies on Wednesday show entire streets flooded people stuck on rooftops and cars piled up and flipped over said they were still working on finding dozens of missing people Trains between Madrid and the region's capital as have other major public services in other affected regions and public libraries in the Valencia region will be closed Footage from the city of Valencia on Tuesday showed muddy water flooding through the streets tearing down walls and sweeping away parked cars In towns close to rivers such as Utiel or Paiporta cars and garbage cans were swept away by currents that AEMET reports that the "cold drop" that caused the flooding is the worst Valencia has experienced this century but adds that it is too early to tell if climate change is to blame The term "cold drop" refers to a pool of cooler air high in the atmosphere causing it to move slowly and often lead to high-impact rainfall events The sheer amount of rain that fell meant many were taken by surprise with people finding themselves trapped in their basements or first floors and unable to get to safety Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday local time that his government would use all means necessary to help victims of the floods Valencia's regional leader Carlos Mazón told reporters earlier on Wednesday that some bodies were found as rescue teams began to reach areas previously cut off by the floods "Out of respect for the families we are not going to give any more details." Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles described the flooding as an "unprecedented phenomenon," CNN en Español reported Robles said that more than 1000 members of the military had been deployed to assist in rescue efforts The Spanish government has decreed three days of official mourning for victims of the flooding Mazón also urged residents in the provinces of Valencia and Castellón to avoid travelling by road Residents on Wednesday were facing a huge clean-up and searching for bodies Dozens of videos appear to show people trapped by the floodwaters in Valencia with some climbing into trees to avoid being swept away An unspecified number of bodies have been found in areas hit by flash flooding in southeastern Spain the leader of the Valencia region has told reporters World RSS Follow RNZ News 20246:29 PM UTCIn pictures: Rescue teams struggle after catastrophic floods in SpainSpanish rescuers opened a temporary morgue in a convention centre and battled to reach areas still cut off on Friday as the death toll from catastrophic floods rose to 205 people in Europe's worst weather disaster in five decades [1/29]Volunteers and locals work following heavy rains that caused floods [2/29]Firefighters search for possible victims inside a car that was stranded in a tunnel after heavy rains in Alfafar [3/29]A man sits on a street covered in mud in the aftermath of torrential rains that caused flooding [5/29]Firefighters walk through piled up cars [6/29]A woman is transported to an ambulance by members of an emergency services [8/29]A member of a rescue team sits as he takes a break next to a tunnel where vehicles are piled up [10/29]A woman sweeps mud off the street following heavy rains that caused floods [11/29]Mud is seen at a cemetery on All Saints' Day damaged cars and debris after heavy rains in Alfafar [13/29]Women with brooms walk past stranded cars along the railroad track [15/29]A man looks at a mud-covered street with piled up cars in the aftermath of torrential rains that caused flooding [17/29]A member of Spanish civil guard searches for the victims in a car laying on rail road tracks after heavy rains in Alfafar [18/29]People clean a mud-covered street after heavy rains in Alfafar [19/29]Firefighters work in a tunnel after heavy rains in Alfafar [20/29]Firefighters pump out the floodwater out of a tunnel where vehicles are piled up More in this CollectionSee all picturesItem 21 of 29 Volunteers clean as the street is covered in mud in the aftermath of torrential rains that caused flooding REUTERS/Eva Manez[21/29]Volunteers clean as the street is covered in mud in the aftermath of torrential rains that caused flooding The death toll from devastating flash floods in eastern Spain climbed to 158 on Thursday with rescue teams still searching for those missing in what could become Europe's worst storm-related disaster in over five decades "There's a total of 158 people to which must be added dozens and dozens of missing," Angel Victor Torres minister in charge of cooperation with Spain's regions told a press conference.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); A year's worth of rain fell in eight hours in parts of the Valencia region on Tuesday Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division Spain's heavy flood death toll raises questions about how one of the world's most developed nations failed to respond adequately to extreme storms likely to intensify as climate change accelerates Torrential rains that began at the start of the week sparked flooding that has left at least 95 people dead the deadliest such disaster in the western European country since 1973.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); National weather agency AEMET launched a red alert for the hardest-hit eastern Valencia region on Tuesday morning and conditions deteriorated throughout the day Torrential rains brought devastation to communities in eastern Spain as flash floods swept away buildings destroyed bridges and piled debris in streets Dozens of people have died and the authorities warn others could be trapped or missing Cars were washed down streets and stacked on top of each other in the town of Sedaví after up to a year's worth of rain fell in a few hours People have been forced to abandon their homes and seek refuge with friends and family or in emergency shelters Rail services have been suspended between Madrid and Valencia after tracks were littered with vehicles or rubbish Emergency workers have helped rescue the injured and elderly from flooded homes Some areas could only be reached by helicopter after roads were blocked by mud and debris and the government has deployed hundreds of soldiers to help with the rescue effort the drama unfolded with little warning as torrents of water barraged down streets at night People watched helplessly from windows as the water swept away everything in its path Communities are counting the cost of the devastation and starting to clean up and remove mud and water from homes Production by Dominic Bailey and Camilla Costa Henry Riley is Leading Britain's Conversation At least 72 people have died after Spain was hit by flash flooding - with cars being swept away and rescuers scouring muddy waters for bodies A year's worth of rain fell in just eight hours in the eastern region of Valencia on Tuesday destroying bridges and buildings in the area derailed a train and rose several feet into the lower levels of homes as landslides caused by the floods also caused disruption Locals described seeing people clambering onto the roofs of their cars as a churning tide of brown water gushed through the streets More than 1,000 soldiers were sent to the worst-hit areas to help with rescue efforts following the floods the Spanish government announced three days of mourning for those who died in the extreme conditions said Tuesday was "the worst day of [his] life" "We were trapped like rats," Ricardo Gabaldon said "Cars and trash containers were flowing down the streets The water was rising to three metres." Read more: British couple die after being swept away by flash floods on holiday in Mallorca, as tributes pour in Read more: Storm Boris sweeps through Europe - with at least six dead and thousands evacuated from their homes Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain "weeps with" the people who are still searching for family and friends He told reporters: "Our thoughts go out to those whose homes and possessions have been devastated and whose lives have been covered in mud "We are united and we will rebuild your streets and your squares and bridges Mr Sanchez added: "Spain will be with you." He said the government and emergency services would be working "24 hours a day as long as the emergency goes on" Mr Sanchez said the "devastating event" may not be over A British couple in Spain reported seeing "nine or 10" overturned lorries in a short stretch of motorway near Valencia on Tuesday ngiht Spanish news agency EFE said that one truck driver was missing in L'Alcudia told RTVE that several people were trapped in their homes Police and rescue services used helicopters to lift people from homes and cars An emergency rescue brigade of Spain's army deployed to help rescue efforts Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: "I am closely following with concern the reports on missing persons and the damage caused.. He told people to listen to the emergency services and "be very careful and avoid unnecessary trips." Storms were forecast to continue until Thursday according to Spain's national weather service Spain has experienced similar autumn storms in recent years The country is recovering from a severe drought this year thanks to rainfall Scientists say that increased episodes of extreme weather are probably linked to climate change See more More Latest News See more Latest News See more The News Explained See more Royals See more Highlights & Opinion See more More Topics Play Duration: 3 minutes 41 seconds3m 41sPresented by The death toll from devastating flash floods in eastern Spain has climbed above 150, as rescue teams searching for those still missing. Firefighters walk through piled up cars, following floods in Sedavi, Valencia, Spain, October 31, 2024. REUTERS/Susana Vera TranscriptSally Sara: The death toll from devastating flash floods in eastern Spain has climbed above 150, with rescue teams still searching for those missing in what could become Europe's worst storm-related disaster in more than five decades. Most of the deaths have occurred in the eastern Valencia region of Spain. Our correspondent Kathryn Diss joined me a short time ago. Kathryn, good morning. What's the latest? Sally Sara: Kathryn, what do we know about how this disaster unfolded? Just how much rain came down in such a short space of time? Sally Sara: That's Kathryn Diss there in Spain. Published: YesterdaySun 4 May 2025 at 9:10pm Download the ABC listen app to hear more of your favourite podcasts Best photos of April 28: Wildfire in Cape Town to clean-up from Myanmar earthquake A Cork family caught in the terrible downpours battering Spain has shared their story as the country is hit by its deadliest flooding in three decades Jennifer O'Brien from Glanmire and her family are just a few of the many Irish holidaymakers caught in the freak weather battering Spain's Valencia region this week The downpours - brought on by Storm Dana - started on Monday and slowly escalated with experts saying that by mid-week some areas were hit by a year's worth of rain in just 8 hours This extreme rainfall was followed by devastating flash floods that tore through the streets of a number of towns and villages Many locals had to rush to safety as gushing water tumbled vehicles chunks of buildings and household items down streets at high speeds Police and rescue services used helicopters to lift people from their homes and boats to reach drivers trapped on the roofs of cars Read More: Gardaí seize unedited footage of podcast with Ian Bailey as Sophie Toscan Du Plantier murder probe continues Read More: Gardaí probe gang of phone thieves prowling Cork city pubs over Jazz Weekend Cork woman Jennifer and her family are staying in a hotel based 30 miles outside Valencia city and - so far - have managed to dodge the worst of the poor weather but have still seen heavy impacts in their area She told CorkBeo: "We woke up in the middle of the night last night to torrential rain - all the windows in the hotel were blown in we came downstairs and the hotel bar was jam-packed with hundreds of people Electricity had gone out in other hotels in the area and they all came in to try and get some food." Jennifer and her loved ones had booked their flights during the school's midterm break for a quick family getaway all they can think about is getting home as many roads have been closed and a number of trains and flights have been cancelled in the area Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said dozens of towns had been flooded and over 1,000 soldiers from Spain’s emergency response units were deployed to the impacted areas At least 72 people have been confirmed dead and the Spanish government has declared three days of mourning for the victims starting tomorrow (Thursday 31 October) such as the Southwest Jerez region and parts of the northeast have also been heavily impacted by Storm Dana and are currently under weather warnings Experts are forecasting another 100mm of rain in these areas up to and including Friday Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: "For those who are looking for their loved ones We are putting all the resources necessary so that we can recover from this tragedy." A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs has issued a travel alert for Spain and is advising Irish citizens to check the latest weather information before they travel and to follow the advice of the local authorities Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.