Death toll from devastating flash floods in Spain stands at 207

The death toll from flash floods in Spain's southern and eastern regions has risen slightly to 207, a minister said on Saturday.

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska updated the number of people killed in Spain's worst flooding in decades in comments made to broadcaster Cadena SER. The previous count was 205 dead.

Grande-Marlaska said he expected the number to rise in the coming hours as teams continue to conduct searches in the hardest hit areas.

At least 204 people died in the Valencia region alone. Three other deaths were reported in the Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia regions.

There are fears that many more people will be found dead in cars swept away by the torrential rains that flooded towns and caused rivers to burst their banks earlier this week.

More than 1,700 soldiers are assisting in the Valencia region and thousands of volunteers have also come forward to help local emergency crews.