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Tag: Weather – Latest forecast for the UK

  • New vid captures horror moment deadly Valencia floods struck out of nowhere

    New vid captures horror moment deadly Valencia floods struck out of nowhere

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    SHOCKING new video has captured the moment the deadly floods in Valencia surged towards the region – leaving at least 218 dead.

    Torrents of water can be seen rushing past residential blocks from out of nowhere as the flash floods sweep up almost everything in its way from cars to hundreds of helpless people.

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    At first a trickle of water moves slowly down the riverbedCredit: Twitter
    The trickle turns into a torrent with the water carrying logs and rubbish

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    The trickle turns into a torrent with the water carrying logs and rubbishCredit: Twitter
    Civil Guards checking cars for bodies in a car park Paiporta

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    Civil Guards checking cars for bodies in a car park PaiportaCredit: AP

    Authorities have already confirmed over 200 deaths in Valencia since the weather chaos first erupted but the search for bodies continues.

    The death toll is expected to rise to about 400, making it Europe’s deadliest flash flood in five decades.

    Harrowing footage shows how the surges of floodwater quickly washed through packed out towns and cities.

    One Brit living in the quiet area of Paiporta has revealed how he was forced to helplessly listen to his neighbours’ final screams for help as they were killed by fast-flowing water.

    read more in Spanish floods

    Jerome Torres, 49, said the horrifying swamped streets of Valencia looked like something out of an “apocalyptic” horror film on Tuesday evening.

    Hundreds of cars had to be abandoned in the middle of the streets as the floods came in.

    Pictures showed how many of the motors were left floating in endless murky, brown streams.

    Even after the water had been partially cleared cars were still left flipped over on their bonnets and smashed to pieces.

    Officials say that many victims have been discovered trapped inside their cars.

    Pictures of brave rescue workers searching through an underground car park shows them discovering cars bobbing above the water as they look for any survivors.

    I was forced to hear neighbours’ dying screams as Spain floods swamped streets…it was like an apocalypse film, Brit says

    The Spanish government has vowed to “improve” their recovery efforts after a number of angered citizens kicked off over the lacklustre response and poor prior warnings.

    Frustrated residents of Paiporta hurled mud at Spanish King Felipe VI on Sunday when he visited the town following the disaster.

    Locals shouted “Get out! Get out!” and “Killers!” at the royal as police stepped in to keep back the crowd.

    The government has now deployed 10,000 soldiers and police officers to battle the torrid conditions as officials believe 2,000 people remain missing.

    Rescue teams waded through deep water to continue searching for survivors and bodies

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    Rescue teams waded through deep water to continue searching for survivors and bodiesCredit: AP

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    The flood was caused by downpour in the mountains above the Spanish region of Valencia. No warnings were issued by the local authorities until two hours after the deluge tore through Paiporta.

    Many roads remain blocked by piles of vehicles swept through the town by tsunami-like waters.

    So far, three Brits have died after an elderly couple was confirmed dead this morning.

    Don Turner, 78, and his wife, Terry, 74 were found in the town of Pedralba near Valencia.

    The pair’s daughter, Ruth O’Loughlin, from Burntwood, Staffordshire, confirmed her parents’ bodies were found in their car on Saturday.

    She told the BBC they had moved to Spain ten years ago as they “always wanted to live in the sunshine”.

    Ruth said she had last spoken to them before they disappeared adding that her mum had been complaining about the rain.

    Another Brit aged 71, died in hospital last week after he was rescued by boat from his flooded home near Malaga.

    red alert has now also been issued for Barcelona after the catastrophic flash floods.

    Spain’s weather service has issued a red warning of “extreme danger” and urged people not to travel “unless strictly necessary.”

    Streets were turned to rivers during the flooding

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    Streets were turned to rivers during the floodingCredit: Jerome Torres

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    Georgie English

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  • At least 51 dead in Valencia flash floods as vids show roads become rapids

    At least 51 dead in Valencia flash floods as vids show roads become rapids

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    AT least 51 are dead after catastrophic flash floods hit Spain with videos showing roads becoming rapid and fears a dam might burst.

    Rescuers are now desperately trying to find survivors after the downpour left some regions, including popular Brit holiday resorts, underwater.

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    Emergency services carry the body of a flooding victimCredit: AP
    A helicopter rescues a person off a roof

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    A helicopter rescues a person off a roofCredit: AP
    Valencians walk through water on Wednesday morning

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    Valencians walk through water on Wednesday morningCredit: AP
    Cars have been left piled up after being swept away by the flood waters

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    Cars have been left piled up after being swept away by the flood watersCredit: AFP
    Flash floods picked up the motors causing drivers and passengers to flee

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    Flash floods picked up the motors causing drivers and passengers to fleeCredit: AP
    Emergency crew rescue residents after they were trapped in their homes overnight

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    Emergency crew rescue residents after they were trapped in their homes overnightCredit: AP
    Where water has receded mud remains

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    Where water has receded mud remainsCredit: Solarpix
    Flooding has hit the east and south of the country

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    Flooding has hit the east and south of the countryCredit: AFP

    The flooding has caused havoc, running from the provinces of Malaga in the south to Valencia in the east.

    Tragically, a baby is now one of the 51 confirmed dead by officials on Wednesday morning.

    Dozens more are feared dead as flood water which first hit around 1pm Tuesday caused rivers to burst their banks, entered homes, and swamped cars.

    The President of the Valencia region Carlos Mazon said: “There are bodies and bodies continuing to appear in places we hadn’t been able to access before.”

    In one small area on the outskirts of Valencia city, 40 people are either dead or missing, police sources have said.

    Two council workers are said to be missing after a river burst its banks and two are feared dead after becoming trapped in a flooded basement in their police station.

    In Massannassa, on Valencia’s outskirts, a man died after getting trapped in a lift as he went down to a flooded underground car park beneath his apartment to check on his vehicle.

    Around 600 people were trapped in the Bonaire mall, Valencia’s largest shopping centre last night, after ground-floor flooding.

    There are fears the Cirat-Vallat dam could burst with officials putting out a warning after they couldn’t open the gates.

    Soon after the announcement local media reported operators were able to open two of the three floodgates.

    Moment police save 14-year-old boy left floating on debris in grocery store parking lot after Hurricane Milton floods Tampa_1

    Videos shared by Spanish broadcasters showed floodwater rising into the lower levels of homes and even carrying cars through the street.

    Drivers also posted videos showing the horrific conditions on the roads, with many abandoning their vehicles as the water rose.

    A taxi driver called Paco was hit by a wall of water with “brutal” force while driving on the outskirts of Valencia city.

    He said: “We were heading along a road leading to the CV-36 motorway and as we got to a roundabout before we reached it, we saw people warning us to turn round.

    Trash and mud has been left by the floodwaters

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    Trash and mud has been left by the floodwatersCredit: AP
    Streets have been turned to rivers by the flooding

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    Streets have been turned to rivers by the floodingCredit: Solarpix

    “We turned back but in a question of seconds a massive amount of water appeared.

    “It was impossible to get out of the car. A torrent of water smashed my taxi against barriers at the side of the road and I couldn’t move.

    “We spent three hours on top of the lorry trailer before the water levels started to descend and we could reach safety.”

    Ricardo Gabaldn, the mayor of Utiel, a town in Valencia, told national broadcaster RTVE his town was “trapped like rats”.

    He said: “Cars and trash containers were flowing down the streets.

    “The water was rising to three meters.”

    Emergency services workers backed by drones were looking through buildings as they sought to find trapped residents.

    In some places, rescue services used helicopters to lift people from houses and cars to safety.

    The entire province of Valencia – which has a resident population of nearly 5.5 million – were told they should avoid any travel yesterday evening through emergency mobile warnings.

    Schools, sports events, and other public facilities like parks are all closed on Wednesday.

    Motors have been left lying in the mud

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    Motors have been left lying in the mudCredit: EPA
    A man watches the flooded Turia River flow through Valencia

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    A man watches the flooded Turia River flow through ValenciaCredit: AFP

    Over 1,000 soldiers from Spain’s emergency response units were deployed to the devastated areas.

    The adverse weather is amongst some of the most extreme the country has faced in recent years.

    A high-speed train with 276 passengers derailed in the southern region of Andalusia, although no one was injured.

    Flights were delayed and diverted from Valencia airport at first, with it eventually being closed lat last night.

    Meanwhile, Letur’s mayor Sergio Marin described the situation as “catastrophic” as firefighters and police on the ground and in a helicopter searched for four people said to be “unaccounted for.”

    Marin told Spanish TV: “We couldn’t have predicted anything like this was going to happen. It’s a major catastrophe.

    “Emergency responders including a police helicopter are still searching for around four people who we haven’t been able to account for in the flood area.

    “Some were in a vehicle and others were in their homes. There’s been a lot of damage but we’re just hoping everyone is okay and there are no personal casualties.”

    Elsewhere, in the Spanish city of Almería cars have been destroyed by giant golf ball-sized hailstones that fell from the sky as a violent storm passed over last night. 

    Why was Spain hit by flooding?

    Spain was hit by flash floods after the east of the country was hit by a meteorological phenomena known as a ‘DANA’.

    A DANA, or a ‘cold drop’ is technically a system where there is an isolated depression in the atmosphere is at high levels.

    In layman’s terms, more warm and moist Mediterranean air than usual was sucked high into the atmosphere after a cold system hit the country from the south.

    The easterly wind then pushed all those clouds and rain into eastern Spain.

    Three to four months of rain fell in some places over the space of 24 hours.

    The DANA system hit southern Spain as it arrived from Morocco yesterday and is now expected to head west over southern Portugal.

    Rivers turned into raging torrents

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    Rivers turned into raging torrentsCredit: Solarpix
    Cars were dangerously pushed up against buildings as water rushed past

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    Cars were dangerously pushed up against buildings as water rushed pastCredit: Solarpix
    Cars were filmed floating down streets

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    Cars were filmed floating down streets

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    Ethan Singh

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  • Five killed & four hurt in massive avalanche after urgent weather warning

    Five killed & four hurt in massive avalanche after urgent weather warning

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    FIVE people have died in a massive avalanche in Iran and four others have been left seriously injured.

    Rescue workers found five bodies on the 13,000 ft mountain after local authorities warned about the risks following extreme weather.

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    Rescue workers found five bodies on the 13,000 ft mountain after the avalanche
    The climbers had been warned about weather conditions before they began the ascent on Thursday

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    The climbers had been warned about weather conditions before they began the ascent on Thursday
    Rescuers dig for survivors in the snow

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    Rescuers dig for survivors in the snow

    Four survivors were rushed to hospital on Friday after starting the dangerous climb the day before.

    The climbers were taking on Iran’s 4,150-metre Oshtorankuh mountain, around 180 miles southwest of Tehran, when they were caught up in the snow.

    Its highest San Boran peak, has seen extreme weather conditions of heavy rain and snow in recent weeks, according to state news outlet IRNA.

    In a statement, the Iranian Red Crescent said: “Yesterday, following the avalanche in Oshtorankuh, Lorestan, nine people had an accident, of which four people were taken to the hospital with the efforts of aid workers, and unfortunately five people were also missing.

    “The bodies of two of the missing people were found yesterday.

    “The bodies of three more missing climbers were found a few minutes ago with the efforts of the Red Crescent rescuers.”

    While avalanches are not common in Iran, a deadly one in 2020 killed 12 people in mountains north of Tehran.

    The Iranian Red Crescent posted footage online of rescuers working to free any survivors from the snow and to find bodies of those who didn’t survive.

    They said in a statement under the clip on Thursday: “The moment one of the missing climbers was found by Red Crescent rescuers.

    “Before noon today (December 3) following the avalanche in Ashtrankoh Lorestan, unfortunately 5 climbers were missing and the bodies of 2 people were found during the search and rescue operation.

    “The search operation for 3 other climbers is still ongoing.”

    It comes just months after a deadly avalanche struck the French Alps, killing six people.

    The victims were tragically caught up in the snow as it tumbled down the Armancette glacier near Mont Blanc in south-eastern France.

    The snowslide, with a reported height of 1,600m and a width of 500m, ploughed into skiers shortly before 11.30am.

    And at least seven were killed just days before in a huge avalanche in India.

    A bus packed with tourists reportedly plunged into a gorge following the avalanche.

    Dozens of tourists were feared to be trapped after the torrent of snow and rocks hit five to six vehicles.

    The Red Crescent found two bodies on Thursday and a further three today

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    The Red Crescent found two bodies on Thursday and a further three today

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    Ellie Doughty

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  • Brit among missing after hurricane battered Mexico resort with 165mph winds

    Brit among missing after hurricane battered Mexico resort with 165mph winds

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    A BRITISH national is among the 58 still missing after Hurricane Otis pounded the famous Mexican coastal resort of Acapulco.

    Earlier this week, authorities announced a Brit had been killed during the “nightmare” storm that pounded the city with 165mph winds.

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    The deadly hurricane slammed into the resort city last week
    Hurricane Otis left rubble and ruin in its wake

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    Hurricane Otis left rubble and ruin in its wakeCredit: Reuters

    Three foreign nationals have died since Otis made landfall on October 25, including the Brit as well as a Canadian and American.

    Guerrero state governor Evelyn Salgado has now revealed another Brit is still missing.

    The other foreigners unaccounted for are 11 Americans, five French nationals and a Peruvian.

    Category 5 Hurricane Otis, the strongest on record for a landfalling Eastern Pacific tropical cyclone, claimed most of its victims in Acapulco.

    A number of other people are also known to have died in the nearby municipality of Coyuca de Benitez.

    It pummelled Acapulco with high winds, torrential rains and powerful waves as the “nightmare scenario” forecasters had warned of came true.

    Footage showed Otis battering buildings, while people ran for cover as they found themselves at the eye of one the most powerful storms to hit Mexico.

    The latest figures released by regional authorities puts the death toll at 46 and the number of people who are still missing at 58.

    Hurricane Otis touched land just west of Acapulco on October 25, damaging many of the buildings in the city with landslides and flooding resulting from heavy rain.

    The powerful storm had intensified quickly as it moved towards land – catching many off guard who scrambled to get emergency shelters ready.

    The day Otis hit, Mexico’s president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that there had been “no communication” with the coastal city as its 165mph winds cut it from the rest of the world.

    For days after, Acapulco was left with no drinking water and plenty of residents also lost power.

    The army was mobilised to help survivors and assist in recovery efforts.

    Residents in outlying areas of Acapulco have been complaining today that they are still without water and electricity and are low on food.

    Acapulco is a city of more than one million people, where both luxury homes and slums alike cover the city’s hillsides with views of the Pacific.

    It is one of Mexico’s oldest beach resorts and once attracted Hollywood stars including Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra and Brigitte Bardot in the 1950s.

    Ten Hollywood actors, led by John Wayne and former Tarzan Johnny Weissmuller bought a hotel in the resort and helped turn it into one of the most fashionable of its era.

    Its reputation has been tarnished in recent years by the rival drugs cartels that have turned part of the city into no-go areas.

    British tourists now favour destinations like Cancun and the nearby Riviera Maya coastline.

    As the area braced for Otis’ landfall last week, there were fears that the hurricane could rival the devastation unleashed on Acapulco by Hurricane Pauline in 1997.

    The storm destroyed huge parts of the city and killed more than 200 people.

    Hundreds of others were injured in flooding and mudslides that followed.

    An aerial view of a heavily damaged building in the aftermath of Hurricane Otis,

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    An aerial view of a heavily damaged building in the aftermath of Hurricane Otis,Credit: Reuters
    Those closest to the sea faced the full brunt of the storm

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    Those closest to the sea faced the full brunt of the stormCredit: EPA
    Otis hit the coastal city of Acapulco head on

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    Otis hit the coastal city of Acapulco head onCredit: EPA

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    Iona Cleave

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