Rainstorms and flash floods have hit several regions in Spain, including Valencia and Castile-La Mancha, killing at least 217 people and destroying tens of thousands of houses.
The disaster, triggered by intense rainfall, has been identified by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez as the second-deadliest flood event in Europe this century.
Heavy rainfall lashed southern and eastern Spain last Tuesday and Wednesday, delivering vast amounts of water over a short period. In Chiva, a town in the country's eastern Valencian region -- one of the worst-hit areas -- a staggering 491 liters of rain per square meter fell in just eight hours, equivalent to 20 months' worth of typical rainfall.
Data also showed that more than 75,000 residential buildings in Valencia have been damaged, and at least 190,000 individuals affected, and the search for casualties continues.
The storms have uprooted the lives of many Chiva residents, including a Chinese family who have lived in Spain for more than 20 years. As the river rose and destroyed their hardware shop, a lifetime's work was washed away in just a few hours.
"My family, our staff, seven of us in total, if we didn't have a stairs to the roof we would have all drowned in here. It isn't easy for Chinese people like us here, we come and we work so hard to have a business like this. Then we see everything we've worked for just taken away by the flood like that. We have a phrase in Chinese, it means 'unity is strength,' so many people have come to help," said business owner Li Ying.
Chiva has rallied around a strong sense of community, and dozens of volunteers have come to their shop to help. Li's husband Jiang is devastated, but thankful.
"People have been so good. They have helped so much. People have come from outside Chiva, from outside Valencia, so many people. Spanish people are good people, look how many have come to help, great people," said Jiang.
Sergio Pin, a local farmer, has been using his tractor to help clear homes and businesses for days.
"This Chinese family belongs to the town, just like the Arabic families, and everyone else here, they're part of the community and we have to help them," said Pin.
Heavy rains pound several regions in Spain, killing at least 217
