What to know about the unprecedented floods that killed more than 200 in Spain

VALENCIA, Spain (AP) — In a matter of minutes, flash floods caused by heavy downpours in eastern Spain swept away everything in their path. With no time to react, people were trapped for hours in vehicles, homes and businesses. Six days after Tuesday’s deluge, authorities have recovered 217 bodies and continue to search for an unknown number of missing people. The damage recalled the aftermath of a tsunami, with survivors left to pick up the pieces as they mourned their loved ones. Thousands of volunteers have helped to clear away the thick mud and debris covering houses, streets and roads, all while facing power and water cuts and shortages of some basic goods.