Spain hit by flash floods that killed 51 people and roiled an economic hub

The flooding seemed not to strongly hit Valencia, the regional hub and Spain’s third-largest city.

Per a Spanish government briefing, the auto industry is the most significant in Valencia province. It also mentioned chemicals, manufacturing, agri-food and IT.

It was not immediately clear whether particular industries or companies had been strongly affected by the floods.

Valencia’s government advised against road travel in the province due to “heavy” rain warnings in alert texts sent to residents in the early hours of Wednesday, local time.

In an X post on Wednesday, Spain’s transport minister said there would be no train service on the railway line connecting Valencia to Madrid, the Spanish capital, until at least 10 a.m. local time.

On Tuesday, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was closely following reports of missing people and damage caused by the storm and that all emergency services were being dispatched in response to the storm.

In an X post on Wednesday, Valencia city mayor said the province is facing one of the “most difficult and painful” moments in its history.