A large area of southeast Spain was on red alert on September 12 as the heaviest rainfall in more than a century pounded the region, killing at least two people. The regional emergency service said a wife and husband, both age 70, were found dead inside an overturned car that floodwaters washed away in Caudete, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Valencia. The Spanish weather service AEMET classified the region as being “at extreme risk” as it forecast torrential downpours of up to 90mm an hour and up to 180mm over 24 hours.

READ: Hurricane Dorian Topples Crane, Knocks Out Power In Eastern Canada

AEMET: Heaviest rainfall recorded since 1917

The storm was passing over the Mediterranean coastal regions of Valencia, Murcia, and Alicante on Thursday and Friday. One of the first places to be hit was Ontinyent, a town south of Valencia, where the River Clariano flooded the streets Wednesday night. Almost 300 liters of rain per square meter fell in 24 hours, which AEMET says is the heaviest recorded there since 1917. Brown water rushed through streets, washing away cars, and almost reaching the tops of the front doors of houses along the riverbank.

READ: Mumbai Rains Update: IMD Predicts Heavy Showers For Next Two Days

Heavy rainfall creates havoc 

Closed roads and train lines disrupted traffic. Trucks, trees, and fences blew down, and a mini-tornado was also reported. The local Spanish government representative in Murcia, Francisco Jiménez, advised people to take “maximum precaution,” adding that Thursday “is a good day to stay at home.”Local schools canceled classes Thursday and Friday for more than 300,000 students, according to Spanish private news agency Europa Press.

READ: Florida Kid Who Survived Hurricane Dorian Embraced By His Classmates

READ: Japan: Typhoon Faxai Kills 1, Leaves Over 40 Injured In Tokyo Region