Madrid, November 2 (RHC)-- Spain has declared three days of national mourning after the death toll from devastating flash flooding soared to 158.  Most of the deaths were in Valencia, where flooding uprooted trees, downed power lines, demolished bridges and roads and left hundreds of cars strewn about like toys half-buried in mud. 

The disaster struck as unprecedented storms brought a year’s worth of rainfall in just eight hours.  One victim, Patricia Villar, spoke with reporters: “Well, it’s all destroyed — shops, supermarkets, schools, cars. It’s all destroyed.  These caravans come from the 27th neighborhood, almost in Valencia.  They went all the way down until here.  And just here on the right, there’s a boat.  It has been incredible, mind-blowing.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is warning that devastation caused by flash flooding is “not finished,” as Spain’s weather agency warned a fresh round of storms will bring more heavy rain this weekend.

Climate scientists warn human activity is driving global heating that makes extreme weather events more frequent and more destructive.

[ SOURCE: DEMOCRACY NOW ]