'It is all in ruins.' The shattered lives of Paiporta at the epicenter of Spain's floods

PAIPORTA, Spain (AP) — The pictures of the smiling toddlers on the wall somehow survived. Most everything else in the daycare — the cradles, the highchairs, the toys — was ruined when a crushing wall of water swept through Paiporta, turning the Valencia municipality of 30,000...

What to know about the unprecedented floods that killed more than 200 in Spain

MADRID (AP) — In a matter of minutes, flash floods caused by heavy downpours in eastern Spain swept away everything in their path. With no time to react, people were trapped in vehicles, homes and businesses. Many died and thousands saw livelihoods shattered. Four days later,...

Mud-caked volunteers clean flood debris in a Spanish town as authorities struggle to respond

CHIVA, Spain. (AP) — Mud cakes her boots, splatters her leggings and the gloves holding her broom. Brown specks freckle her cheeks. The mire covering Alicia Montero is the signature uniform of the impromptu army of volunteers who, for a third day Friday, shoveled and swept out the...

Spain searches for bodies after unprecedented flooding claims at least 158 lives

BARRIO DE LA TORRE, Spain (AP) — Crews searched for bodies in stranded cars and sodden buildings Thursday as residents salvaged what they could from their ruined homes following monstrous flash floods in Spain that claimed at least 158 lives, with 155 deaths confirmed in the eastern Valencia...

Flood survivors say regional Spanish officials waited too long to warn them of the danger

BARRIO DE LA TORRE, Spain (AP) — Moments after rushing waters burst through the door to her home, Mari Carmen Pérez received a text message alert from regional Spanish authorities warning her of the possibility of flash floods. By the time Pérez's phone buzzed, the water has...

Spanish authorities boost death toll from devastating flash floods to at least 155 victims

At least 95 people die in devastating flash floods in Spain

UTIEL, Spain (AP) — Flash floods in Spain turned village streets into rivers, ruined homes, disrupted transportation and killed at least 95 people in the worst natural disaster to hit the European nation in recent memory. Rainstorms that started Tuesday and continued Wednesday...

Copa del Rey games and other sporting events postponed after deadly floods devastate southern Spain

VALENCIA, Spain (AP) — The Copa del Rey matches involving Valencia and Levante have been postponed following floods that have killed at least 95 people and caused havoc in southern Spain. Other sporting events were also affected by Tuesday's flash floods that swept away cars,...

Spanish emergency services say 51 people have died in floods in eastern region of Valencia

Ethiopian runner Yomif Kejelcha breaks the men's half-marathon world record by one second

VALENCIA, Spain (AP) — Ethiopian runner Yomif Kejelcha made every second count as he broke the men's half-marathon record by just one second Sunday. Kejelcha finished strongly in the Spanish city of Valencia to set a time of 57 minutes, 30 seconds, knocking a single second off the...