Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Persistent flooding in Spain
People wade through a street Saturday near Murcia in southeastern Spain, where record, persistent rainfall has caused widespread flooding and has been blamed for at least six deaths. Rescuers have saved more than 3,500 people threatened by the high water in the past week, officials said.
BARCELONA, Spain — Record rainfall claimed two more lives in southeastern Spain as it caused widespread flooding, raising the overall death toll to six from the storms, authorities said Saturday.
Rescuers saved thousands of people during the storm that slammed into the Mediterranean coastal regions of Valencia, Murcia and eastern Andalusia last week. Authorities said some towns and cities reported their heaviest rainfall on record. The downpour forced the closure of airports in Almeria and Murcia as well as intercity train lines, major roads and schools.
A fifth victim was found late Friday by police in the village of Redovan. News agency Europa Press reported that police said the 58-year-old man was swept away by rushing water when he got out of his vehicle.
A sixth victim was confirmed Saturday — a 41-year-old man in the town of Orihuela, where the Segura River overflowed its banks Friday.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said Friday that 3,500 people had been rescued from perilous situations.