A further 500 soldiers have been deployed in the Valencia region amid criticism of local authorities over their response to the devastating floods that have hit Spain in recent days.

More than 200 people are known to have died, with most victims in and around Valencia, but the death toll is expected to continue to rise.

Heavy rains that began on Monday caused floods that destroyed bridges and covered cities in mud, leaving them without water, food or electricity.

Thousands of people traveled from the city of Valencia to nearby rural areas to bring supplies and help clean up the city. However, authorities announced that traffic in the area would be restricted over the weekend to ensure access for emergency workers.

About 1,700 soldiers are already working on search and rescue operations in the Valencia area, although hopes of finding more survivors are fading.

Part of the focus is pumping water from underground tunnels and car parks where people are feared to be trapped as water flows in.

Local authorities are facing intense criticism for the lack of warning from the authorities before the floods.

Amparo Andres, who has owned her store in Valencia for 40 years, told the BBC that at one point the water in the building reached her neck and she thought she was going to die.

“At least I’m alive, but I’ve lost everything. My business, my home. And the government does nothing. Only the young people around us help,” he said.

Juan González, who lives in the town of Aldaia, said the area was prone to flash floods.

“It’s outrageous that our local government didn’t do anything about this, knowing this was coming,” he said.

In ruined city of Paiporta, where more than 60 deaths have been reported so far, residents have expressed their frustration that help is coming too late.

“There aren’t enough firefighters, the shovels haven’t arrived,” Paco Clemente, a 33-year-old pharmacist, told AFP as he helped clear mud from a friend’s house.

The Madrid government is also criticized for did not mobilize the army earlier and that rejected the French government’s proposal to send 200 firefighters to assist in search and rescue efforts.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has pledged to do whatever it takes to help those affected by the disaster.

Dozens of people have also been arrested for looting, with one Aldaia resident telling AFP he saw thieves grabbing items from an abandoned supermarket as “people are a bit desperate”.

Warnings of further downpours in the south today

Warnings remain in place for southern Spain, with the possibility of further heavy rain today Saturday. This is the Huelva region, which has already been severely affected by the rains. The city of Cartaya saw about two months’ worth of rain in just 10 hours.

Further south, in the city of Jerez, hundreds of families were forced to flee their homes as heavy rain raised river levels.

Some residents say more lives could have been saved if local authorities had warned sooner about the risk of flooding.