03 November 2024
The mayors of the municipalities affected by the floods in Spain are calling for more aid and the arrival of the military. Five days have already passed since the flooding caused by the Dana and many residents are still without drinking water and food. There remain vehicles piled up and destroyed where there could be victims inside and some places are still inaccessible. At the end of a new meeting of the crisis committee, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez admitted that “the response” that the state as a whole is giving “is not sufficient”. “I know there are problems and shortcomings and collapsed services, we must do better”, he said, underlining however the extraordinary nature of the situation the country is facing, “it is the most serious flood on the continent since the beginning of the century”. “There will be time to analyze the negligence and ascertain the responsibilities,” he said, “but now we must put aside the discrepancies” and “act as a united country”. However, the controversies over the management of the emergency do not stop. There are currently 211 victims, but there could be many more. Sanchez himself acknowledged that there are still “many missing” and the scenario is disturbing.
In Aldaia, a small Valencian town, the underground car park of the Bonaire shopping centre, which has over 5,800 spaces, is still entirely flooded. There are divers from the Military Emergency Unit on site who are searching for possible deaths.
Corps sources commented to ESdiario that the car park is a “cemetery”. According to what El Diario reports, “the number of people who may have been trapped down there cannot be quantified.” The access from the escalators inside the shopping center was completely buried by shelves and objects carried away by the force of the water. From the outside, the access and exit to the underground car parks facing the street are completely flooded. The only way to get in is to dive.
Criticism was leveled against the governor of the Valencia region, Carlos Mazon, of the PP, both for the delay in launching the alert and for maintaining the emergency level at 2 without increasing it. An increase in the emergency level, explains El Pais, would mean Mazón taking sole command of the emergency response operation and becoming the legal as well as political responsible for the decisions taken by the regional administration to alleviate the consequences of Dana. But criticism was also raised against Sanchez.
Podemos accused him of not declaring a state of alarm and not taking command of the emergency response. Sanchez, speaking from Moncloa, stated that the government and the region must work “together” and that “it is not a question of replacing the regional administration with the central government.” It will have everything the region asks for, assured the leader, who then announced the dispatch of another five thousand soldiers to the flooded areas and five thousand agents of the national police and civil guard. «It is the largest Emergency Alert level launched by the governor of the Valencia region Carlos Mazon de deployment of armed forces ever carried out in Spain in peacetime», he said. According to Podemos, Sanchez gave the impression “that he cannot do anything more than what a region asks for.” Help for residents to clear mud and rubble from their homes and shops is coming from the many volunteers who go to the flooded areas every day with water, food and cleaning products.
Thousands of volunteers gathered yesterday morning at the City of Arts in Valencia, responding to the appeal of the local authorities. They were divided into groups and given masks, gloves and bags of food. Two days ago the region thanked the volunteers for their help, but urged people not to reach the flooded areas by car so as not to congest traffic and facilitate the arrival of help. Authorities later decided to restrict movement in flood-hit areas throughout the weekend, a measure that drew criticism. Today the king and queen, Felipe VI and Letizia Ortiz, will travel to the affected places. In these dramatic hours, however, news of hope also arrives. A woman has been rescued after being trapped in her car for three days in the Benetússer underpass in the Valencia metropolitan area. Two days ago, when the removal of the vehicles obstructing the area began, the Civil Protection heard the woman’s cries for help and managed to extract her and put her to safety.
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**Interview with Dr. Elena Morales, Meteorologist, on DANA and Recent Flooding in Spain**
**Host:** Welcome, Dr. Morales. Thank you for joining us today. We’re discussing the recent devastating flash floods in Spain caused by the DANA weather phenomenon. Can you explain what DANA is and how it contributes to such extreme weather conditions?
**Dr. Morales:** Of course, thank you for having me. DANA, which stands for “Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos” in Spanish, translates to ”isolated depression in high levels.” It’s a weather pattern characterized by a cold drop of air in the atmosphere, primarily occurring during the fall months. This phenomenon can lead to intense and localized rainfall, often resulting in flash floods, especially where the terrain is susceptible.
**Host:** We’ve seen reports of severe flooding recently, with many areas still inaccessible and residents lacking basic necessities. What factors make DANA particularly dangerous in these situations?
**Dr. Morales:** The danger of DANA lies in its ability to stall over a region, releasing huge amounts of rain in a short period. The geography of Spain, particularly in places like Valencia, can exacerbate the flooding as water runs off quickly into urban areas. When infrastructure cannot handle this rapid influx, we see catastrophic impacts, such as what we’re witnessing now.
**Host:** Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez mentioned the government’s response to the crisis has not been sufficient. What are the critical steps that should be taken in emergencies like this?
**Dr. Morales:** In emergencies caused by DANA, timely communication and preparedness are vital. Authorities need to issue warnings well in advance and ensure that emergency services are equipped and ready. This includes deploying military and civil resources to assist affected populations quickly. After the immediate crisis, a thorough analysis of infrastructure resilience and management strategies is crucial to minimize future risks.
**Host:** As we hear about over 200 victims and criticism regarding the management of this crisis, how important is it for local and national governments to collaborate during such disasters?
**Dr. Morales:** It’s essential. Effective disaster response requires a coordinated effort between local and national governments. Clear communication, resource allocation, and a unified command structure can help streamline operations. In crisis situations like these, political disputes should take a backseat to ensuring public safety and providing timely assistance.
**Host:** Thank you, Dr. Morales, for your insights. It’s clear that addressing issues like DANA is not only a matter of meteorological understanding but also of effective governance and preparation.
**Dr. Morales:** Thank you for having me. It’s crucial that societies learn from these events to build more resilient communities for the future.
