PREVIEW

This footage taken by primary school teacher Javier Ballesteros in Utiel, a satellite town of Valencia, Spain, on Tuesday (29October2024), shows a woman, her dog, and kittens being rescued from the unprecedented flash floods that have hit the area.

At least 51 people have died in the catastrophic floods caused by torrential rain across south-eastern Spain.

In Chiva, just East of Utiel, more than a year’s worth of rain fell within eight hours.

Alongside the footage, Ballesteros wrote of the rescue: “We managed to get the helicopter to see us and rescue this woman in Utiel who was trapped in her wooden house with her cats and dog. Incredible rescue.”

He later added: “I have to report that I have just been given the news that both the lady and her dog and her kittens are all safe.”

More than 1,000 troops have been deployed to support rescue efforts, with scores of people still unaccounted for.
Spain’s King Felipe VI expressed his devastation at the tragedy, extending “heartfelt condolences” to the families of victims in a message on X (formerly Twitter).