51 people died in Valencia

Videos posted on social media showed some people trapped by floodwaters, while others climbed trees to avoid being washed away.

Spain’s state meteorological agency AEMET declared a red alert for the city of Valencia, with some areas recording nearly 8 inches of rain.

Valencia regional leader Carlos Mazon told a news conference that some people remain stranded in hard-to-reach areas.

Spain experienced similar autumn storms in recent years. It is still recovering from a severe drought earlier this year. Scientists say the increase in extreme weather episodes is likely due to climate change.