**Spain Deploys Additional Troops and Police to Valencia Amid Devastating Floods**

Spain is intensifying its response to the catastrophic flooding in the eastern region of Valencia, with an additional deployment of 5,000 soldiers and 5,000 police officers. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the move on Saturday in the wake of the deadly floods that have claimed more than 200 lives this week. The tragedy stands as Spain's deadliest natural disaster in living memory.

Rescue efforts have led to the recovery of 205 bodies so far—202 in Valencia, two in Castilla La Mancha, and one in Andalusia. Rescuers continue their search among stranded vehicles and waterlogged buildings, even four days after the devastating flash floods hit the region. The exact number of people still missing remains unknown.

In the aftermath, thousands of volunteers have mobilized to clear the dense mud covering streets, homes, and businesses in the hardest-hit areas. Currently, the emergency response involves around 2,000 soldiers, nearly 2,500 Civil Guard gendarmes—who have conducted 4,500 rescues during the crisis—and 1,800 national police officers.

Spain has been enduring an almost two-year drought, exacerbating the situation as the hard, dry ground struggled to absorb the sudden deluge of water. The floods are reminiscent of a disaster in August 1996 when a flood along the Gallego river claimed 87 lives at a campsite in Biescas.

Satellite images have starkly shown the extent of the devastation, with the Mediterranean city of Valencia transformed into a muddy wasteland. The V-33 highway, crucial for transportation, is entirely submerged under a thick layer of mud.

"The situation is unbelievable. It's a disaster and there is very little help," lamented Emilio Cuartero, a resident of Masanasa, a suburb of Valencia. "We need machinery, cranes, so that the sites can be accessed. We need a lot of help, and bread and water."

As Spain continues to grapple with the aftermath of this unparalleled natural disaster, the immediate focus remains on rescue and recovery efforts to assist those affected by the floods.