Spain - October 30, 2024 In the aftermath of the most catastrophic DANA event of the century, Spain mourns the loss of at least 95 lives, with dozens still missing, as Valencia bears the brunt of this natural disaster. The region, particularly the municipality of Paiporta, has been declared ground zero, where 40 fatalities, including six at a nursing home, have been confirmed. Additional casualties were reported in Castilla-La Mancha and Andalucía. As intense rains continued to isolate towns and leave 155,000 people without power, officials confirmed ongoing search and rescue operations. Valencia's president, Carlos Mazón, indicated that while no one remains stranded on rooftops, there are still numerous individuals unaccounted for. The current situation resembles the catastrophic floods of 1987 and the infamous "Pantanada de Tous" in 1982, according to the State Meteorological Agency. The Spanish government has declared three days of national mourning from October 31 to November 2, during which flags will be flown at half-mast across public buildings. Minister Ángel Víctor Torres announced that a 'catastrophic zone' declaration would be on the agenda for the next Council of Ministers, as recovery efforts ramp up. President Pedro Sánchez is set to visit Valencia on Thursday to express government support for victims' families, pledging that all necessary resources will be deployed for recovery, even looking to the EU for additional assistance if required. In an effort to coordinate rescue efforts, the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, confirmed the activation of the Copernicus satellite system. Rescue teams, including the Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME), are intensifying their search missions, focusing on public areas such as the parking lot in Utiel as they prioritize locating missing persons. With the death toll likely to rise, officials urge anyone with information about missing individuals to contact the designated hotline to assist in the ongoing search efforts.