- The Spanish government confirmed the death of at least 211 people | Main photo: EFE
Thousands of volunteers traveled on Saturday, November 2, to the most affected municipalities of Valencia, in Spain, by the floods to help with cleaning tasks and bring essential products to those affected, because in many places they still could not reach the most specialized troops.
“You know what you’re going to find. If you find dead people, that’s what can happen. Mud, sludge… that’s the least important thing, but the important thing is to help people in some way,” Teo Colombia, a medical student who is on the bus to the town of Aldaia (Valencia) with Gema, told EFE. Estéfano, another volunteer who emphasizes that it was “clear” that she had to help. “It is impossible to say no,” they concluded.
Solidarity is not only carried out by the citizens of Valencia. Aid is also being sent from other regions and provinces of Spain.
But there is also the other side of the coin, the looting of abandoned businesses and homes.
One of the objectives of the agents who will be deployed in the area will be to guarantee security on the streets, which is a priority, according to the president of the government, who estimated 82 arrests for robberies, acts of looting and looting.
“Unfortunately, there are people who take advantage of the situation to commit criminal acts,” said the president of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez.
Spain sends 10,000 more troops to search for missing people
In another attempt to help the victims, Spain mobilized 10,000 more troops, including the military, police and Civil Guard, after the storm that hit Valencia, on the Mediterranean coast, and caused at least 211 deaths and an undetermined number of missing people. , in which it can be considered the largest natural disaster in Spain since the last century.
This Saturday, four days after the floods caused by the storm, thousands of troops and volunteers are working hard to fight against the mud and mud to find the missing and clean roads and accesses to towns so that the necessary help can arrive.
Sánchez, who gave the latest death toll in an institutional appearance this Saturday, stated that recovering and identifying the bodies of the deceased is one of the government’s priorities.
Largest deployment of forces in peacetime
And to do so, he announced the sending of 5,000 more soldiers to the affected area (4,000 will arrive this Saturday) and as many civil guards and police officers until reaching a total of 10,000 troops, which will be added to the more than 2 thousand already deployed in the area.
“We are talking about the largest deployment of members of the security forces and bodies of the State of the Armed Forces that has ever been made in our country in times of peace,” emphasized the head of the Executive, who explained that so far more have been rescued. of 30 thousand people in flooded homes, roads and industrial estates.
In addition, he announced that the Community of Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha, Andalusia, Catalonia and Aragon, the regions where the storm had the most impact, will be declared an area seriously affected by a civil protection emergency, which means that the State will be in charge of the repair of material damage or aid to companies and workers.
Also, the government asked the European Commission for help from the European solidarity fund and the use of other community support resources.
Citizen complaints
One of the main complaints of the population is the slowness with which aid is arriving and the delay in the cleaning tasks of the affected areas, since four days after the tragedy, there are still commercial areas, parking lots and basements of homes. where it has not been possible to access and where there may be bodies.
In Spain, the powers to manage this type of emergency are held by the regional governments, which are in charge of asking the central government for the reinforcements they consider, as is being done with the arrival of the military.
“The central government is ready to help,” said Sánchez, with more personnel, machinery, financing or technical advice, and insisted that the help requested by Valencia will be provided “immediately.”
With information from EFE
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#Volunteers #Valencia #Spain #affected
what actions do governments take to prepare for and reduce the impact of future natural disasters?
Ent will mobilize additional resources to support recovery and relief efforts in these regions, ensuring that affected communities receive the necessary assistance for rebuilding and returning to normalcy.
The deployment of such a large number of troops and the involvement of various government agencies highlights the seriousness of the flooding situation, which has caused significant disruption and hardship for residents. This unprecedented mobilization reflects the government’s commitment to address the immediate needs of those impacted by the storms.
the coordinated effort signals a robust response to natural disasters, aiming to mitigate the effects of the recent floods and safeguard the welfare of citizens in the affected areas.
