Valencia: Flash floods in Spain have resulted in the tragic loss of at least 158 lives, with numerous individuals still missing. Over 1,000 soldiers from Spain’s emergency response unit have been deployed to the hardest-hit areas.

Cars are stacked upon each other, resembling fallen dominoes, while uprooted trees, downed power lines, and debris litter the streets, which are engulfed in mud in Valencia, located south of Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast, reported the Associated Press on Friday.

Luís Sánchez, a welder, recounted the harrowing experience of witnessing bodies floating in the water and attempting to rescue those trapped in their vehicles on the flooded V-31 highway. "The firefighters took the elderly first when they could get in. People were crying all over; they were trapped," he told the news organisation.

The floods transformed narrow streets into treacherous traps, destroying homes and businesses, and sweeping away people, cars and everything else in its path. Bridges have been destroyed, and roads are now unrecognisable.

In a televised address, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed solidarity with those affected, stating, "All of Spain weeps with all of you. We won't abandon you." He emphasised that the disaster is not over and pledged to mobilise all necessary resources for this tragedy.

This flood marks one of Spain’s deadliest natural disaster since 1973, when approximately 150 people lost their lives in the southeastern provinces of Granada, Murcia, and Almería.

Scientists warn that extreme weather events like the storm that struck Valencia are becoming increasingly severe, prolonged, and frequent due to human-induced climate change.

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Chikkamagaluru (Karnataka), Nov 1: Three people sustained minor injuries as they fell down due to the slippery route because of rain when they were on the way to Deviramma hill temple here, a police officer said on Friday.

All three of them sustained minor injuries and were discharged after first aid, Vikram Amathe, Superintendent of Police (Chikkamagaluru) told PTI.

According to him, a large number of people climbed up the hill shrine to have darshan of the Goddess.

"Because of rain, the route has become slippery. Only three people were injured as they slipped while climbing," Amathe said.

The injured were immediately shifted via ambulance and given necessary first-aid, he said.

Also, two women had fallen unconscious because of fasting on October 30, he clarified.

According to him, the 24-hour darshan started on October 30 and went on till early morning of October 31.

In view of the crowd, adequate security arrangements were made along the route, police said.

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