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Officials in Spain are grappling with the aftermath of a catastrophic flood that has displaced thousands and left many dead.

What’s the deal: Earlier this week, Spain experienced its deadliest flooding in decades, leaving at least 158 people dead and displacing thousands across multiple regions. The hardest-hit area, Valencia, recorded 155 deaths, with hundreds still missing. Over 1,200 rescue workers, aided by drones and helicopters, have been deployed to locate survivors and provide critical aid, as many towns remain overwhelmed by mud and debris.

During a press conference, Spanish Minister for Territorial Policy Angel Víctor Torres, said, “There are dozens of missing people. We cannot confirm that number. But it is clear that as more days pass and they do not appear, the more likely it is that we will have no hope of finding them alive.”

What caused the floods?: The floods in Spain were primarily caused by an intense weather phenomenon known as gota fría, which occurs when cold air from the Atlantic descends over the warmer Mediterranean waters, often resulting in heavy rainfall during autumn and winter. State officials have said that the downpour was intensified due to climate change.

Anger from civilians: Amid ongoing rescue and recovery efforts, civilians affected by the floods are voicing outrage over delayed alerts, with many saying notifications only arrived after floodwaters had already inundated their neighborhoods. In an interview with Reuters, Laura Villaescusa, a flood victim, stated, ‘Those people wouldn’t have died if they had been warned in time.’

Government opposition leaders have joined in the criticism, accusing the central government of responding too slowly and inadequately to the unfolding disaster.