The storms were concentrated in the basins of the Magro and Turia rivers and, in the Poyo channel, they produced walls of water that overflowed the banks of the rivers, catching people off guard who continued with their daily lives, many of whom returned home from work on Tuesday night.

In the blink of an eye, muddy water covered roads and railway tracks, and entered homes and businesses in towns on the southern outskirts of the city of Valencia.

Drivers had to take shelter on the roofs of vehicles, while residents tried to take shelter on higher ground.

Spain’s national weather service said the hard-hit town of Chiva had more rain in eight hours than in the previous 20 months, calling the deluge “extraordinary.”

When the authorities sent the alert to mobile phones warning of the seriousness of the phenomenon and asked people to stay at home, many were already on the road, working or covered in water in low areas or garages, which became traps. mortals.

On Friday, the massive and spontaneous arrival of volunteers complicated access for professional emergency workers to some areas, prompting authorities to draw up a plan for how and where to deploy them.

Rafael Armero, 19, who was in Alfafar, a suburb of Valencia, said on Saturday: “I have been walking around the town for three days helping everyone who needs it. “We have a backpack full of food and water for whoever needs it.”

More than 90 percent of homes in Valencia had regained electricity by Friday, utility Iberdrola said, although thousands were still without power in cut-off areas that rescuers were struggling to reach.

On Friday, the massive and spontaneous arrival of volunteers complicated access for professional emergency workers to some areas, prompting authorities to draw up a plan for how and where to deploy them.

Rafael Armero, 19, who was in Alfafar, a suburb of Valencia, said on Saturday: “I have been walking around the town for three days helping everyone who needs it. “We have a backpack full of food and water for whoever needs it.”

More than 90 percent of homes in Valencia had regained electricity by Friday, utility Iberdrola said, although thousands were still without power in cut-off areas that rescuers were struggling to reach.

The storms began on Tuesday (Oct. 29) and continued into Wednesday. After the floods, cars were left piled up in the streets surrounded by a sea of ​​debris from damaged buildings and structures.

Here’s the latest on the situation in Spain and what you need to know about travel.

The worst of the storm is over in Mallorca despite much of the island being hit by torrential rain on Friday night, according to local media reports.

Javier Bonet, first deputy mayor of Palma, the Majorcan capital, urged locals and tourists on Friday to leave their homes only if it is “absolutely necessary.”

“We are not on red alert, but it is essential to alert the population to avoid greater risks,” he added.

But the Mallorca Daily Bulletin reports that “the storm is easing” and “emergency services believe the worst of the cold wave is over.”

Emergency services recommend extreme precautions, since rain is still possible on Saturday.

Follow the link below to watch live as volunteers and emergency services carry out rescue operations in the devastated eastern region of Valencia.