Devastating flash floods swept through eastern portions of Spain this week, with the death toll climbing to more than 150 people on Thursday.
In what some experts are calling Spain’s worst natural disaster in living memory, flash floods deluged towns in eastern Spain, including Valencia, with the waters inundating roadways with debris, floating vehicles, and downed power lines.
The country has been in a multi-year drought, with hardened ground unable to absorb the rain failing late Tuesday night and early Wednesday. Rains have continued this week, and search and rescue operations are ongoing.
Direct Relief has offered support to Bomberos Unidos Sin Fronteras, a Spanish search-and-rescue NGO. Direct Relief has worked with the group in the past, including during search and rescue operations after earthquakes destroyed communities in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, where the organization supported response.