Latest news Death toll now at 219 after storms in Spain

More than a week after the so-called storm of the century in the east and south of Spain, the death toll now stands at 219 with the recovery of further bodies.

This was announced by Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska on the radio station Cadena Ser on Wednesday evening following the discovery of two bodies in the Castilla-La Mancha region. Meanwhile, the rescue work is continuing at full speed today. Places are still covered in mud, underground car parks are full and buildings are inaccessible due to cars and household goods blocking the roads. Dozens of people are still missing.

In the worst-affected area in the Valencia region to the west and south of the city of the same name, there is now growing concern about the outbreak of infectious diseases, for example from organic waste that has not yet been collected. Health Minister Mónica García told the radio station that there is a clear risk. However, there are still no outbreaks of infection.

Many dead still unidentified

93 people are still missing, as Cadena Ser reported, citing the latest data from the authorities in Valencia. However, 54 of the bodies recovered have not yet been identified, meaning that some of the people reported missing by relatives and friends could be among the confirmed dead.

Most of the deaths from Tuesday's severe storms a week ago were in the Valencia region, with 211 so far. In Castilla-La Mancha, the number of deaths has now risen to seven with the two bodies found, while another person died in the Andalusia region in southern Spain.

SDA