Floods hit Spain, one person loses her life

A 102-year-old woman lost her life and around 90 people were rescued on Friday in Madrigueras, in the province of Albacete, Spain, after flash floods swept through the town.

According to the regional government, 142 litres of rain per square metre were recorded in the area, forcing the authorities to activate a wide emergency operation. The Adverse Meteorological Risk Plan (METEOCAM) was also activated at operational level 1.

The victim was found in her home, where the water level had reached about one metre. During the afternoon and the first hours of the night, emergency teams carried out around 90 rescue operations, mainly for residents trapped in homes engulfed by the water.

The authorities said they had received a large number of calls from frightened residents, who were asking for help and guidance on how they should act.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his condolences to the victim’s family and his solidarity with the residents affected by the floods. Meanwhile, the president of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page, is in Madrigueras, where the Civil Guard is continuing the work of cleaning up and dealing with the consequences of the floods.