Madrid, 31 October 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Following the severe storm that resulted in at least 95 deaths in Spain, rescue and clean-up operations are ongoing, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expected to visit hard-hit Valencia on Thursday morning.

Some 92 of the 95 reported dead came from the Valencia region, Spanish broadcaster RTVE reported on Thursday.

Within the region, the hardest hit area was Paiporta, where 40 people have been confirmed dead, six in an old people's home, RTVE said.

In addition. two women died in the Castilla-La Mancha region south-east of Madrid, where five missing people are being sought in Letur. Another man, a British national, died in Andalusia.

The first clean-up phase has already been completed, Carlos Mazón, president of the Valencia regional government, said overnight.

Approximately 70 aerial operations were carried out, and, reportedly, all people who had sought refuge on rooftops have been rescued.

He said emergency services have now reached all affected communities. The search for missing people continues.

Mazón rejected criticism that the population was warned too late about the floodwaters. Initial warnings, he said, were issued as early as Sunday. The authorities reportedly adhered strictly to civil protection protocols.

During the extremely heavy rainfall - in some areas as much rain fell in one day as would normally fall in a year - more and more rivers burst their banks on Tuesday.

The weather service AEMET described it as a "historic storm," reportedly the worst of its kind in this century in the Valencia region, which is popular with tourists.