GENEVA — The UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported Friday that recent deadly flooding in Spain, which has reportedly claimed more than 158 lives, is among a growing wave of extreme weather events affecting communities globally.

WMO spokesperson Clare Nullis highlighted the surge in catastrophic weather-related disasters, stating, "This year, almost every week, we're seeing such shocking images."

The intense rainfall, which unleashed a year’s worth of rain in just hours, has caused rivers in Spain's Valencia region to overflow, turning streets into rushing torrents and resulting in substantial casualties, economic losses, and widespread disruption.

As global temperatures rise, Nullis explained, saturated air holds 7% more water vapor per degree of warming, exacerbating extreme rainfall.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has linked the increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, to human-driven climate change.

Omar Baddour, WMO's chief of climate monitoring, added that the Mediterranean basin is particularly vulnerable to severe storms and cyclones, especially as summer transitions to autumn.

He explained that atmospheric instability over a concentrated area, including Spain, Portugal, North Morocco, and France, led to the recent devastating downpours in isolated locations.

The Spanish government has declared three days of national mourning in response to the tragedy, underscoring the toll of these escalating climate-driven events. — Agencies