“That parking lot looks like a cemetery.” These were the first words of the Ume military divers, who managed to enter the flooded underground parking lot of the large Bonaire shopping center, located near the town of Aldaya. During the flood on Tuesday afternoon, shops, restaurants and cinemas were open and many people were in the area. The water level rose up to three meters, turning the parking lot, with 5,700 parking spaces, into a real death trap. Rescue sources quoted by eldiario.es indicate that the number of victims could be “incalculable”. In a tragic irony, the Bonaire website stated that the parking lot was “free and without time limits”. The access via escalators to the shopping center was also seriously damaged, blocked not only by the water but also by debris brought by the violence of the flood. The situation also made it impossible to leave the site. According to local press, this parking lot is one of the most critical points for rescue teams. Although there are no official reports, it is suspected that there are many bodies inside. Divers are working in extremely difficult conditions and firefighters are using pumps to empty the parking lot from the water.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that “the Valencia region needs more troops, resources and funding” to deal with what he called “the second worst flood of the century in Europe.” He announced the immediate dispatch of 5,000 army soldiers to join the 3,000 already present and another 5,000 Civil Guard and police forces. Sanchez added that the death toll had risen to 211 and stressed the importance of searching for the missing and restoring damaged services.

Despite the devastation, a woman was found alive after being trapped for three days in an abandoned car in an underpass in Benetússer, one of the hardest-hit areas. The mayor of Aldaia described the situation as “terrible,” with 10,000 cars stuck in the streets and an urgent call for heavy equipment to clear the roads. Four days after the flood, many neighborhoods remain cut off without electricity or drinking water.

The mayor of Torrent said they are working with residents and law enforcement to try to restore some normalcy. In many areas, access is blocked by vehicles and debris carried by the muddy tide. The mayor of Chiva has launched an urgent appeal for water and food, highlighting the seriousness of the situation in her municipality.