Spain has mobilized an additional 500 soldiers to the Valencia region, where catastrophic flooding has claimed over 200 lives and continues to wreak havoc. The deployment follows mounting criticism of local authorities for their slow response and limited warnings prior to the disaster.

The torrential rains, which began on Monday, have led to severe floods across northeastern and southern Spain. Bridges and infrastructure have been destroyed, entire towns submerged in mud, and multiple communities cut off without access to essential resources. Thousands of volunteers from Valencia city have traveled to rural areas to assist in delivering supplies and supporting cleanup efforts. In response to the ongoing crisis, authorities announced that traffic in the Valencia metropolitan area will be restricted over the weekend to prioritize access for emergency responders.

Despite the reinforcements, hopes of locating more survivors are dwindling. Approximately 1,700 soldiers are engaged in search and rescue missions, focusing on extracting floodwater from underground tunnels and car parks, where it is feared people may still be trapped.

Public frustration has grown as residents, like long-time Valencia shop owner Amparo Andres, share their experiences of surviving the disaster and enduring significant personal losses. "At least I’m alive, but I’ve lost everything," she said. Juan Pérez, a local resident who returned to find his home destroyed, expressed a similar sense of loss, recounting memories of his family now gone "overnight."

Residents in hard-hit towns like Paiporta, where at least 60 people have died, are angered by the lack of timely aid. "There aren’t enough firefighters, the shovels haven’t arrived," said Paco Clemente, a pharmacist assisting with cleanup efforts. Valencia officials have also faced criticism for issuing emergency alerts late on Tuesday evening when floodwaters were already surging through communities.

Meanwhile, the federal government in Madrid has also faced scrutiny for not mobilizing resources sooner and declining France’s offer to send 200 firefighters to aid in rescue operations. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has since pledged a full commitment to assisting those affected.

Adding to the region’s challenges, dozens of people have been arrested for looting abandoned stores, with residents describing desperation among those searching for essential supplies.

The Spanish meteorological agency, Aemet, reported unprecedented rainfall in the region of Chiva, where the downpour in just eight hours equaled an entire year’s worth of precipitation. Experts at World Weather Attribution (WWA) indicate that climate change likely intensified the floods, with preliminary analysis suggesting the rainfall was 12% heavier than it would have been otherwise, doubling the likelihood of such extreme weather.

Weather warnings remain in place across northeastern and southern Spain through Sunday, with additional alerts issued in the Balearic Islands for Saturday.