Francisco Murgui went out to try to salvage his motorbike when the water started to rise. He never came back. One week after

The number only corresponds to the eastern Valencia region, where 211 of the 217 confirmed deaths took place when entire communities were swamped by tsunami-like floods on Oct. 29

Search and clean up operations continued in eastern Spain on Tuesday almost a week after flash floods devastated communities, sweeping away everything in their path.

The gargantuan recovery efforts in dozens of communities slowly moved forward. The prime minister said he'll ask for financial help from the European Union.

One week after catastrophic flooding devasted eastern Spain, María Murgui still holds out hope that her father is alive and among the unknown number of the missing. “He was like many people in town who went out to get their car or motorbike to safety,

At least 218 have been confirmed dead after heavy rains starting late on Oct. 29 swamped entire communities, mostly in Valencia region.

Authorities have yet to any give an estimate of the missing. Spanish state broadcaster RTVE shows a steady stream of appeals by people searching for family members.