MADRID, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The body of a fireman, who disappeared on Saturday night while carrying out rescue work due to the heavy rain which has affected the east and south of Spain in recent days, was recovered on Sunday morning, rescue services have confirmed.
The body of the 45-year-old fireman was found almost 7 km from where the vehicle, which carried him and two companions, was swept away by rising waters shortly before midnight on Saturday in the province of Malaga (southern Spain).
According to the Spanish media reports, the other two firemen managed to climb onto the roof of the vehicle and escaped, while the victim lost his footing and fell into the torrent of water.
Rescue teams with dogs had been searching for the missing man, who's father of two kids.
The Mayor of the nearby town of Antequera, Manuel Baron, confirmed on Sunday that the town will hold three days of official mourning for the deceased fireman.
The past 72 hours have seen the south and east of Spain affected by a phenomenon known in Spanish as the "Gota Fria", which is literally translated as the "cold drop".
This phenomenon usually happens in the autumn when cool air from low pressure zones over mainland Spain collides with warmer air from the Mediterranean Sea, causing heavy storms, which especially affect coastal regions.
The past three days have seen some areas, such as Castellon (east Spain) receive rainfall of over 200 liters per square meter, causing flash floods.
The fireman's death is the first death on the mainland in the current incident.
On the Island of Mallorca in the Mediterranean Sea, 13 people were killed by flash flood on Oct.9.
