BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Twelve days have passed since catastrophic flash floods carved a muddy scar through eastern Spain, killing over 200 people and soiling the homes of thousands more.
Apocalyptic scenes documented by The Associated Press photographers speak to the terrifying power of nature unleashed in all its fury.
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A demonstrator holds his hands up in front of riot police during a protest organized by social and civic groups, denouncing the handling of recent flooding under the slogan "Mazón, Resign," aimed at the president of the regional government Carlos Mazon, in Valencia, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Members of the V battalion of the military emergency unit, UME, use a canoe to search the area for bodies washed away by the floods in the outskirts of Valencia, Spain, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Dolores Merchan, 67, reacts in tears as she is assisted by volunteers clearing mud from her home, where she has lived all her life with her husband and three children, and which has been severely affected by the floods in Masanasa, Valencia, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Volunteers clean the mud of Vero Almarche's house badly affected by flooding in Masanasa, Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Civil Guards walk in a flooded indoor car park to check cars for bodies after floods in Paiporta, near Valencia, Spain, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
People clean mud from a house affected by floods, in Algemesi, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A painting hangs near the water level marker as resident remove the mud in a house after floods in Paiporta, Valencia, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Tania hugs her brother-in-law Baruc after rescuing some of their belongings from their flooded house after the floods in Paiporta, Valencia, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Spain's King Felipe VI is protected after a crowd of angry survivors of Spain's floods have tossed mud and shouted insults at the King and government officials when they made their first visit to one of the hardest hit towns after floods in Paiporta near Valencia, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Hugo Torres)
A man walks through a street affected by floods in Paiporta, the epicenter of the storm, near Valencia, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Volunteers and residents cleanup the mud four days after flash floods swept away everything in their path in Paiporta, outskirts of Valencia, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(AP Photo/Angel Garcia)
A chapel inside a flood damaged cemetery is seen after floods in Alfafar on the outskirts of Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
Vero Almarche, 36, right, hugs her neighbor Maria Munoz, 74, who was born in the house where they are photographed and which was destroyed by flooding in Masanasa, Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Part of a rotating World Globe Map showing Spain is covered in mud after floods in Paiporta, near Valencia, Spain, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
A man walks inside a flood damaged cemetery on the outskirts of Valencia, Spain, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 after flooding in the region. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
Writing on a wall of a centre for pensioners reads 'Goodbye mum. We didn't arrive on time. Sorry' after floods in Picanya on the outskirts of Valencia, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
People who have been working in the clean-up attend a mass at the San Jorge church after floods in Paiporta, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
Vehicles pile up in the streets after flooding caused by late Tuesday and early Wednesday storm that left hundreds dead or missing in Alfafar, Valencia region, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(AP Photo/Angel Garcia)
A couple of volunteers walk hand in hand down a muddy street in a flooded area in Masanasa, Valencia, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Emergency services remove cars in an area affected by floods in Catarroja, Spain, on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Volunteers return from helping affected municipalities four days after flash floods swept away everything in their path in the town of Paiporta, the epicentre of the storm, outskirts of Valencia, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(AP Photo/Angel Garcia)
Mannequins are photographed partially buried in mud in an area affected by floods in Masanasa, Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Gloves and cleaning utensils hang in a window during the clean-up after the floods, in a house in Masanasa, Valencia, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A general view of an area affected by floods in Chiva, Spain, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Shovels lean up against a wall during the clean up operation after flooding in Massanassa on the outskirts of Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
People clear mud from a street in an area affected by floods in Catarroja, Spain, on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A man stands among flooded cars piled up in Valencia, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Members of the Spanish Guardia Civil carry the body of a person who died during floods in Valencia, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
The windows of a house affected by floods are pictured in Paiporta, at the epicenter of the floods, near Valencia, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
People pick up goods in a supermarket affected by the floods in Valencia, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Mud covers the area in the aftermath of last Tuesday and early Wednesday storm that left hundreds dead or missing in the region, in Paiporta, outskirts of Valencia, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(AP Photo/Angel Garcia)
A woman looks out from her balcony as vehicles are trapped in the street during flooding in Valencia, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
It was as if a tsunami, instead of having been generated in the ocean’s depths and sent smashing into the shore, had been poured down by some vengeful sky god and rampaged through sleepy villages and ordinary neighborhoods.
The wild newborn river caught thousands unaware, tossed cars around like toys and tore down buildings nearest the normally dry canal banks, which themselves were left widened with ragged edges.
Survivors say that 15 minutes was all it took for a drainage canal that was crucial in the disaster to go from empty to overflowing. Abutting homes channeled the rushing water to expand its shockwave. Regional authorities failed to alert the populace in time, and in some places there wasn't even rain to put people on guard, magnifying the chaos.
In the aftermath, streets look like they have been blasted back to the Medieval period, covered by layers of mud that obscured any glimpse of pavement or cobblestone.
Everything on the ground floor was turned into junk in a matter of minutes when the water burst into homes. Furniture, clothes, toys, photos, heirlooms ... nothing was spared.
The feeling of abandonment of many residents turned into rage, prompting the pelting of Spain’s King and prime minister with clumps of mud when they visited the devastated area.
Every foot caked in mire, in the sticky brown filth that after days keeps oozing out of homes and ruined stores no matter how much is shoveled and swept away.
The “thup, thup, thup” throbs in the air from the military helicopters flying over the area that has been labeled as “ground zero” of the Oct. 29 floods.
The search goes on now for the missing. Searchers drive poles into mud banks hoping to find and recover the bodies of the dead.
But human generosity is also found amid the despair.
While thousands of troops and police reinforcements remove the countless wrecked cars, it’s the people themselves, the residents, neighbors and volunteers who stream in on foot to help.
Strangers aiding the needy by diving into the muck, and with each scoop and toss, inch towards a distant renewal.
A demonstrator holds his hands up in front of riot police during a protest organized by social and civic groups, denouncing the handling of recent flooding under the slogan "Mazón, Resign," aimed at the president of the regional government Carlos Mazon, in Valencia, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Members of the V battalion of the military emergency unit, UME, use a canoe to search the area for bodies washed away by the floods in the outskirts of Valencia, Spain, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Dolores Merchan, 67, reacts in tears as she is assisted by volunteers clearing mud from her home, where she has lived all her life with her husband and three children, and which has been severely affected by the floods in Masanasa, Valencia, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Volunteers clean the mud of Vero Almarche's house badly affected by flooding in Masanasa, Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Civil Guards walk in a flooded indoor car park to check cars for bodies after floods in Paiporta, near Valencia, Spain, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
People clean mud from a house affected by floods, in Algemesi, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A painting hangs near the water level marker as resident remove the mud in a house after floods in Paiporta, Valencia, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Tania hugs her brother-in-law Baruc after rescuing some of their belongings from their flooded house after the floods in Paiporta, Valencia, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Spain's King Felipe VI is protected after a crowd of angry survivors of Spain's floods have tossed mud and shouted insults at the King and government officials when they made their first visit to one of the hardest hit towns after floods in Paiporta near Valencia, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Hugo Torres)
A man walks through a street affected by floods in Paiporta, the epicenter of the storm, near Valencia, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Volunteers and residents cleanup the mud four days after flash floods swept away everything in their path in Paiporta, outskirts of Valencia, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(AP Photo/Angel Garcia)
A chapel inside a flood damaged cemetery is seen after floods in Alfafar on the outskirts of Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
Vero Almarche, 36, right, hugs her neighbor Maria Munoz, 74, who was born in the house where they are photographed and which was destroyed by flooding in Masanasa, Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Part of a rotating World Globe Map showing Spain is covered in mud after floods in Paiporta, near Valencia, Spain, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
A man walks inside a flood damaged cemetery on the outskirts of Valencia, Spain, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 after flooding in the region. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
Writing on a wall of a centre for pensioners reads 'Goodbye mum. We didn't arrive on time. Sorry' after floods in Picanya on the outskirts of Valencia, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
People who have been working in the clean-up attend a mass at the San Jorge church after floods in Paiporta, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
Vehicles pile up in the streets after flooding caused by late Tuesday and early Wednesday storm that left hundreds dead or missing in Alfafar, Valencia region, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(AP Photo/Angel Garcia)
A couple of volunteers walk hand in hand down a muddy street in a flooded area in Masanasa, Valencia, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Emergency services remove cars in an area affected by floods in Catarroja, Spain, on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Volunteers return from helping affected municipalities four days after flash floods swept away everything in their path in the town of Paiporta, the epicentre of the storm, outskirts of Valencia, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(AP Photo/Angel Garcia)
Mannequins are photographed partially buried in mud in an area affected by floods in Masanasa, Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Gloves and cleaning utensils hang in a window during the clean-up after the floods, in a house in Masanasa, Valencia, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A general view of an area affected by floods in Chiva, Spain, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Shovels lean up against a wall during the clean up operation after flooding in Massanassa on the outskirts of Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
People clear mud from a street in an area affected by floods in Catarroja, Spain, on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A man stands among flooded cars piled up in Valencia, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Members of the Spanish Guardia Civil carry the body of a person who died during floods in Valencia, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
The windows of a house affected by floods are pictured in Paiporta, at the epicenter of the floods, near Valencia, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
People pick up goods in a supermarket affected by the floods in Valencia, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Mud covers the area in the aftermath of last Tuesday and early Wednesday storm that left hundreds dead or missing in the region, in Paiporta, outskirts of Valencia, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(AP Photo/Angel Garcia)
A woman looks out from her balcony as vehicles are trapped in the street during flooding in Valencia, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
