A research boat will scan the seabed to help search for those missing in Spain’s floods

A Spanish research vessel, the Ramón Margalef, has been diverted from its usual task of investigating marine ecosystems to assist in the search for missing individuals following catastrophic floods in Spain. The crew is using sensors and a submersible robot to map an offshore area to locate vehicles swept into the sea during the floods. The hope is that this map will help recover bodies of the missing. The vessel’s team aims to provide useful information to aid police and emergency services within 10 days. The focus is on identifying large objects, such as cars, at sea. Additionally, the team will evaluate the impact of the flood runoff on the marine ecosystem. The devastating floods have been attributed to a combination of heavy rainfall, drought, and record hot temperatures, highlighting the effects of climate change.