The death toll from Spain’s devastating floods has climbed to 158 as emergency teams continue to search for survivors across the heavily impacted region of Valencia and surrounding areas. The catastrophic flooding, the worst in decades, has left communities devastated and unrecognizable, resembling scenes more commonly associated with hurricanes or tsunamis.

In Valencia, authorities confirmed that 155 bodies had been recovered, with additional fatalities reported in Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia. The final toll may increase as rescue operations proceed, and some residents remain unaccounted for, though officials have yet to release an exact number.

Streets across Valencia’s communities are now buried under thick layers of mud, debris, and overturned vehicles. Entire neighbourhoods are cut off, with uprooted trees, downed power lines, and broken infrastructure blocking roads and isolating residents. In some areas, as much as a year’s worth of rain fell within hours, leading to flash floods that ravaged towns and cities.

The disaster has prompted criticism from local communities and opposition politicians, who argue that the central government responded too slowly. Some residents said that they only received emergency alerts after the floods had struck. Valencia Mayor Maria Jose Catala confirmed that among the dead was a local policeman, one of eight people found in a flooded garage in La Torre, alongside a 45-year-old woman who was found in her home.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, after meeting with emergency officials in Valencia, emphasized the continued danger posed by the severe weather, which has shifted farther north, prompting red alerts in Castellon and Tarragona. “This storm front is still with us,” Sanchez warned, urging residents to stay home and follow official guidance to protect lives.

Spain has declared three days of national mourning in memory of the victims, with approximately 1,000 troops now joining police and firefighters in recovery efforts. Helicopters have already rescued around 70 people from stranded rooftops and vehicles, and authorities are prioritizing searches for any remaining victims to bring closure to grieving families.