**Unprecedented Floods in Spain: Rescue Operations Continue Amid Criticism and Rising Death Toll**

Emergency responders in Spain are aggressively searching for dozens of individuals who remain unaccounted for after the country experienced its worst flooding in decades. Currently, the confirmed death toll exceeds 200, predominantly impacting the Valencia region, and authorities anticipate this number will climb. Bridges have been washed away, and towns are submerged in mud, cutting off entire communities from crucial supplies like water, food, and electricity.

Residents in the affected areas have expressed frustration at the local authorities' slow response to the impending disaster. Juan González, a resident of Aldaia in Valencia, described the severe impact on his town and lambasted the local government for their inaction. "This is an area prone to flash flooding. It's outrageous that our local government didn't do anything about it, knowing that this was coming," González told the BBC.

Another resident named Augustin shared his own hardships, revealing that his family had to leave their flooded apartment and seek refuge with his parents. The civil protection agency, managed by the regional government, did issue an emergency alert, but it came after 20:00 local time on Tuesday, when the floodwaters were already rapidly rising and causing significant damage in many areas.

There are ongoing questions about the adequacy and timing of Spain's flood warning systems. Mireia, living near the devastation in Valencia, highlighted how unprepared people were. "Many people were inside their cars, they couldn't make it out. They were just drowned by the water," she said.

A large-scale relief operation is currently underway, with thousands of volunteers assisting the Spanish military and emergency services. Valencia's regional president, Carlos Mazon, announced that more troops would be dispatched to aid in the efforts. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has praised the volunteers for their relentless dedication, stressing that the government will take all necessary measures to support those impacted by the catastrophe.

In the town of Paiporta, where over 60 deaths have been documented, residents expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of aid. Paco Clemente, a local pharmacist, voiced his concerns: "There aren't enough firefighters, the shovels haven't arrived," he told AFP while helping to remove mud from a friend's home.

Dealing with another crisis, authorities have arrested several individuals for looting in Aldaia. One resident described seeing thieves seizing items from an abandoned supermarket as people grew increasingly desperate.

An extended red alert remains in place for torrential rain on the southern coast, including the severely affected Huelva region. The city of Cartaya, for instance, experienced nearly two months' worth of rain within a mere 10 hours, and more downpours are forecasted into Saturday.

Experts suggest that a prolonged period of low rainfall might have intensified the disaster, as the ground became too parched to absorb the sudden deluge. Preliminary findings from World Weather Attribution (WWA) indicate that climate change has likely exacerbated the severity of the floods, increasing the rainfall by 12% and doubling the likelihood of such an extreme weather event.

The crisis continues to unfold, with responders and residents grappling with the immediate destruction and long-term implications of these unprecedented floods.