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

Associated Press

BARCELONA, Spain (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 for hours in vehicles, homes and businesses. A week after the Oct. 29 deluge, authorities have recovered 219 bodies and continue to search for a confirmed 93 missing people. The damage recalled the aftermath of a tsunami, with survivors left to pick up the pieces as they mourned their loved ones. Thousands of volunteers, soldiers and police reinforcements are clearing away the thick mud and debris covering houses, streets and roads, all while facing shortages of some basic goods including drinking water.