AT LEAST 63 people have died in Spain’s eastern region of Valencia after flash floods swept away cars, turned village streets into rivers and disrupted railway lines and highways, authorities confirmed today.

It was the country’s worst natural disaster in in recent memory.

Rainstorms on Tuesday caused flooding across a wide area of southern and eastern Spain.

Floods of mud-coloured water carried tumbled vehicles along streets at frightening speeds, while pieces of wood swirled with household articles.

Police and rescue services used helicopters to lift people from their homes and cars.

Authorities reported several missing people on Tuesday night, but the following morning brought the shocking announcement that dozens had been found dead.

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

Ricardo Gabaldon, mayor of the Valencia town of Utiel, told national broadcaster RTVE: “Yesterday was the worst day of my life.

“We were trapped like rats. Cars and rubbish bins were flowing down the streets. The water was rising to three metres.”

A high-speed train with nearly 300 people on board derailed near Malaga, although railway authorities said that no-one had been injured. 

Valencia President Carlos Mazon urged people to stay at home to avoid complicating rescue efforts, with travel by road already made difficult by fallen trees and wrecked vehicles.