Emergency services in the eastern region of Valencia confirmed a death toll of 62 people on Wednesday. Another two casualties were reported in the neighbouring Castilla La Mancha region

Rainstorms on Tuesday caused flooding in a wide swath of southern and eastern Spain, stretching from Malaga to Valencia

Mud-coloured floods sent vehicles tumbling down streets at high speeds, while pieces of wood swirled in the water mixed with household items

Police and rescue services used helicopters to lift people from their homes and rubber boats to reach drivers trapped on the roofs of cars

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said dozens of towns had been flooded and warned that the danger is not over

“For those who are looking for their loved ones, all of Spain feels your pain,” Sanchez said in a televised address

Authorities reported several missing people late Tuesday, but the following morning brought the shocking announcement of dozens found dead

Over 1,000 soldiers from Spain's emergency response units were deployed to the devastated areas

Rescue services were also rushing eastwards from other parts of Spain. Spain's central government set up a crisis committee to help coordinate rescue efforts

One elderly couple was rescued from the upper story of their house by a military unit using a bulldozer, with three soldiers accompanying them in the huge shovel