José Luis, a Venezuelan volunteer firefighter who moved to the Spanish town of Torrent, has asked for help and volunteers to reach Paiporta. “There is no more terror than this,” he stated from “ground zero” of the floods in Spain these days, where dozens of people have died.
“There are many minor emergencies in which we can help, like right now by making these streets accessible,” José Luis explained to EFE on Maestro Serrano Street in Paiporta, where he is trying to remove embedded mud from the avenues.
Paiporta, in the metropolitan area of Valencia, is one of the municipalities most affected by dana, with at least 45 fatalities.
“They want Halloween so much that they can’t come to that terror a few kilometers away and save the masks…”, comments the volunteer firefighter, who had to leave Venezuela and currently has a swimming pool company in Torrent.
Convocation
He maintains that although he lives in Torrent, he has tried to call all his employees to come to Paiporta to help in this tragedy, which has affected the Valencian town.
“Yesterday we had to remove a 25-year-old boy who had died because he couldn’t go out and the whole house fell on him,” laments the man, who was Portuguese by birth but who moved to Venezuela when he was only 1 year old.
However, he emphasizes that he already experienced such a catastrophe in Vargas (Venezuela), around the year 2000, when he spent “three days without eating or sleeping and when he got home he could not stabilize his emotions.”
Reality
Thus, he emphasizes that he has barely slept two hours but that he has been able to return to his son, a teenager, after this Tuesday he helped deliver medications to dependent people who have not been able to leave their homes.
José Luis asks for the help of all possible volunteers and, above all, not to buy objects that are not necessary, because when he went to the Torrent store this Wednesday to buy ropes, there were hardly any Halloween gifts. “Can’t they come to this terror and save the masks?” he asks.
Valencia / EFE
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**Interviewer**: Thank you for joining us today, José Luis. Can you describe the situation you’re experiencing in Paiporta right now?
**José Luis**: Thank you for having me. It’s devastating here in Paiporta. The floods have caused immense destruction, and many lives have been lost. The streets are filled with mud and debris, making it incredibly difficult to navigate. We’re seeing a community rallying together, but the scale of the devastation is overwhelming.
**Interviewer**: What are you and your fellow volunteers doing to help right now?
**José Luis**: We’re focusing on clearing the streets to make them accessible for emergency services and residents. There are many minor emergencies that we can assist with, like removing mud and debris, and helping people return to their homes. Every bit of help counts, especially as we work towards a recovery.
**Interviewer**: What do you need from the outside community at this time?
**José Luis**: We urgently need more volunteers to come to Paiporta and offer their assistance. Supplies such as food, clean water, and medical kits are also critical. There’s a strong need for people who can help with the cleanup and recovery efforts. The more hands we have, the better we can address these challenges together.
**Interviewer**: How has this experience impacted you personally?
**José Luis**: It’s been one of the most harrowing experiences of my life. Witnessing the fear and desperation in people’s eyes is heartbreaking. However, seeing everyone come together in solidarity gives me hope. We need to help each other in times like this, and it’s inspiring to be part of that effort.
**Interviewer**: Thank you for your courage and dedication, José Luis. We hope that help will reach you soon.
**José Luis**: Thank you for helping to raise awareness. Every bit of support matters right now.
