At least 51 dead in Spain after heavy rain causes flooding

At least 51 people were reported dead by Spanish authorities after flash floods swept cars through village streets and disrupted rail service in large areas of eastern and southern Spain on Tuesday.

A high-speed train with nearly 300 people on board derailed near Malaga, although rail authorities said no one was hurt. The flooding also disrupted high-speed train services between Valencia and Madrid, as well as other commuter lines across the affected regions.

The State Meteorological Agency has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in the Valencian Community, where flooding caused a bridge to collapse in Picanya.

Municipalities such as Turís and Utiel received around 200 litres of rain per square metre, with many localities in the south and east seeing over 100 litres on Tuesday alone, according to official reports.

Authorities have warned that the adverse weather conditions are expected to persist, and urged locals to remain cautious. “This Tuesday is the most adverse day of the episode, but very heavy showers will continue during the following days,” the agency said on social media platform X.

Spain has faced similar autumn storms in recent years. The country has recovered somewhat from a severe drought this year thanks to rainfall. The majority of climate scientists say that the increase in extreme weather events is caused by climate change.