At least 51 people have died in the severe storms and heavy rain in Spain, specifically in the Mediterranean region of Valencia, the Spanish news agency Europa Press reported on Wednesday.

The report cited the regional government in Valencia.

Torrential rain and widespread flooding have wreaked havoc across Spain, and several people are still missing, according to the authorities.

Rescue operations are ongoing in many areas.

The situation is particularly dire in the Mediterranean coastal regions of Andalusia, Murcia and Valencia, which are very popular with holidaymakers.

The regional leader of Valencia, Carlos Mazón, has called on residents to move to higher ground.

In some areas, residents were trapped in their homes and sent emergency messages via social media, the newspaper El País reported.

In addition to heavy rainfall, there was also hail and strong gusts of wind, according to the national weather service AEMET.

“The hailstones were the size of golf balls. It seemed like the end of the world,’’ farmer Mercedes González, 46, told El País.

The storms have caused rivers to overflow, flooding streets, homes, and fields, with cars and trees swept away by the floodwaters.

The area of rain is expected to move northeast today.

However, a severe weather warning remains in place for large parts of the country.

The weather service said the situation across Spain would not fully calm until Thursday.

In the south and east of Spain, motorways and rural roads had to be closed in many places.

Air and rail transport were also affected. Classes were cancelled at numerous schools and universities.

Due to a landslide, a high-speed train from Málaga to Madrid derailed shortly after departure with 291 passengers on board.

However, no injuries were reported, Spain’s state-owned railway Renfe said.

The storm with heavy rain had already hit Mallorca and other Balearic Islands on Monday.

The situation there has eased, although a yellow storm warning was still in force for some areas, including Mallorca.

Heavy rainfall events have become more frequent and intense worldwide due to climate change.

As global temperatures rise, warmer air holds more moisture, leading to increased precipitation levels.

However, flooding is not solely a result of changing weather patterns.

Other human activities, such as urban development, deforestation, and inadequate infrastructure, also contribute significantly to flood risks.

(dpa/NAN)