Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Dozens are dead and many still feared missing in flash flooding to Spain's southeast in western Europe that Spain's defense minister called "unprecedented" with another European leader pointing to the "reality" of climate change. At least 72 people were dead, according to officials.

Carlos Martinez, another Paiporta resident, told local television the flood alert came when he was stranded in a tree "seeing bodies floating past." Dozens of inhabitants of flooded communities told Reuters that by the time they received the regional government's alert,

Spain has registered the rainiest October on record, culminating in the most deadly floods in decades in the country, the national weather agency AEMET said on Friday. More than 220 people died after torrential rains on Oct.

The search for the dead and missing continues, more than a week since the Oct. 29 floods hit — as well as a gargantuan cleanup and recovery effort. Here’s a look at Spain’s deadliest natural disaster of the century,