Flash flooding in Spain has killed at least 13 people in the Valencia region

At least 13 people have died after torrential rain caused flash floods in southeastern Spain.

Destinations popular with British holidaymakers, including Malaga and Valencia in southern and eastern Spain, as well as the Balearic Islands, were among the hardest hit after torrential rain and strong wind from Storm Dana, which hit the country on Monday.

Rescue efforts are ongoing, and the president of the Valencia region, Carlos Mason, said it was “impossible” to determine the exact number of dead at this stage.

Aemet, Spain’s national meteorological agency, has issued a special warning message covering mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, with forecasters warning that extreme weather may last until the end of the week.

Britain’s Met Office has issued a rare weather warning for parts of eastern Spain, warning tourists to expect “flash floods, mudslides and significant destruction” as torrential rain and thunderstorms continue.

“By the weekend, another 250-350 mm of precipitation is possible in some places – the average for the whole of October is approaching 50-100 mm,” the Meteorological Service reported.

Alora and Cartama, near Malaga in southern Spain, were the latest regions to declare a “red” alert on Tuesday after cars were swept away by the waters of the Guadalgorce River, which rose after heavy rain.

Winds of 120 km/h – stronger than hurricane force – hit the southern coast, where waves of 5 meters were recorded. On Tuesday, authorities raised the weather danger in the region to red, the highest on the scale.

Strange weather with electrical storms occurred over Malaga and the surrounding cities during the night. About 20,000 lightning strikes were reported across the coastal city, causing flight delays and road closures.

In Valencia, in eastern Spain, locals woke up to blocked roads and flooded railway tracks after heavy rain exacerbated flooding. Authorities sent a helicopter to rescue drivers stuck in rising water.

Read on

On Monday, the city council of Valencia recommended that schools and kindergartens stop activities on playgrounds, and also ordered to close the gates of city parks and cemeteries. All sea traffic in the city’s two ports has also been suspended until weather conditions improve.

Strong storms and heavy rainfall have also hit the Balearic Islands, forcing road closures and emergency services to help local residents deal with rising waters.

Dramatic footage of the flooding showed vehicles washed away and water levels rising above trees. One video showed the river overflowing and pouring onto a bridge, preventing locals from crossing the waterway.

This is breaking news that is being updated.