Torrential rains that brought a year’s worth of precipitation in eight hours devastated the Valencia region on Tuesday, sparking fears about the increasing frequency of such extreme weather events due to climate change. The death toll from flash floods in eastern Spain rose to 158 Thursday as rescue teams worked with an urgency to locate missing people in what experts fear could become Europe’s deadliest storm-related tragedy in more than 50 years.

It is Spain’s worst flooding disaster in recent times and is even compared to massive floods experienced in Germany, Romania, and Portugal some decades ago. Amidst the catastrophe, meteorologists cited human-driven climate change as contributing to more frequent and intense calamities.

According to Valencia Mayor Maria Jose Catala, eight bodies were confirmed present in a garage drenched with water, wherein one of them was said to be a policeman. At the same time, 45-year-old locals and hundreds of senior citizens were locked inside—a mammoth outcry for improved alerts well before the onset is called for.

 Calling for Accountability and Public Backlash

Opposition leaders and locals have criticized the central government, saying it did not give enough time for the warnings and responses. Local supermarket manager Laura Villaescusa noted, “People could have been saved if warned in time.” Paiporta Mayor Maribel Albalat said 62 people died in her town.

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Impact on Infrastructure and Agriculture

Floods left heavy destruction of Valencia’s infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and railway tracks on some routes. Transportation Minister Oscar Puente said most of the 80km of heavily damaged roads in the area were blocked by abandoned cars with dead bodies inside. The high-speed train connecting Valencia and Madrid is likely to take several weeks to be restored to use.

The agricultural situation has also been challenging since the flooded farmlands threaten citrus crops, which account for three-quarters of Spain’s global markets for oranges and other citric fruits.

 People in Communities Unite Above Sorrow

Godelleta, a town in the west of Valencia, has traumatized residents with floods that return to haunt them every season. Antonio Molina is a survivor who clings to a porch pillar as waters surge around him. “We don’t want to live here anymore,” he said, blaming the authorities for building in flood-prone areas. On his part, Pope Francis gave his prayers and solidarity to the region.

 Contribution of Climate Change to Severe Weather Conditions

According to a new report by Climate Central, an “atmospheric river” of warm, moist air from the Tropical Atlantic may have boosted the low-pressure system responsible for Spain’s flooding. The report added that human-caused climate change has made such extreme events up to 300 times more likely.

In response to this disaster, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for the residents to focus on safety while reiterating the government’s promise to respond to the intensifying impacts of climate change.