More than 90 people died for the floods in Valencia, in the southeast of Spain, and dozens are missingafter the torrential rains of the last few hours that left shocking scenes of rivers of water washing away streets and dragging cars.
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The number of victims in Valencia is still provisional, while in Castilla-La Mancha two bodies were found and there are at least five people unaccounted for. Currently there are more than 2,000 rescuers working.
It is about the third largest natural disaster in the history of Spainwhich also left around 150,000 without power, while another 120,000 were without internet. While telephone connections still fail, the power was gradually restored, he confirmed to TN Juan Meiriño, Argentine journalist residing in Spain.
Juan Meiriño and Ezequiel Paredes, two Argentines residing in Spain, gave their testimonies hours after the tragedy. (Video: TN/Photo: REUTERS/Eva Manez)
Regarding the tragedy, the journalist confirmed that there was a rain alert yesterday, so he picked up his children from school at 3:00 p.m. and the storm worsened “two hours later” in Valencia.
“It started to rain and it didn’t stop, there was a lot of water and immense wind“, later said Ezequiel Paredes, an Argentine volunteer who has resided in Spain for a year and a half. “There are people who did not return home” after the storm worsened because they were stranded, he added.
Paredes collaborated with police personnel, helped rescue animals and is attentive to any work that requires the help of volunteers.
Pedro Sánchez, on the floods: “All of Spain cries with all of you”
“All our solidarity and affection go out to the families of the people who have died in this tragedy and to those who at this time are still looking for their loved ones. All of Spain cries with everyone and with all of you“said the President of the Government, Pedro Sanchezfrom the Moncloa Palace.
“Public administrations are working, we are working in a coordinated manner to do everything possible and we are going to use all the necessary means today, tomorrow and as long as it takes so that we can recover from this tragedy, we are not going to leave you alone,” he added. Sánchez, who warned that the disaster is an emergency that “continues.”
In some areas The amount of rain that usually falls in a month fell in one day.according to local media. “We are facing an unprecedented situation, which no one remembers,” said the head of government of Valencia.
The woman, her dog and her cats were evacuated by helicopter and brought to safety. 8Photo: video capture X/JaviNakama_).
Some parts of the Valencian Community remain without telephone or electricity service and certain places continued to be inaccessible due to flooded roads, according to what the regional president informed journalists, Carlos Mazón.
A new alert from the population warning system Es-Alert, through mobile phones, ask avoid any type of movement by route in the province of Valencia as a preventive measure against heavy rains.
Although the situation is expected to begin to improve starting this Wednesday, it is still eight autonomous communities remain alert for heavy rains. Three of them –Andalusia (on), Castile-La Mancha (center) and Catalonia (northeast) – present a important risk, with orange alertreported the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet).
In the Valencian Communitywhich had reached the red level of extreme riskthe alert decreased to yellow (risk for certain activities), although the new rains, although less intense, will continue to increase the flows of the rivers and will complicate the situation.
Mazon announced the activation of the “multiple victim procedure.” The Military Emergency Unit (UME) is deployed in several Valencian municipalities and continues working in rescue and evacuation tasks in flooded areas.
Meanwhile, the Government of Castilla-La Mancha requested the intervention of the UME due to the effects of the storm on the province of Cuenca and the search for missing people continues in Albacete.
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The “cold drop” that affects the Valencian Community It is one of the worst of the 21st century, similar to those of 1987 and the “Pantanada de Tous” of 1982, according to Aemet’s first balance sheet shared on social networks. Deep analysis is still missing, but the event is described as “catastrophic” in climatic terms.
The Government has created a crisis committee for monitoring the storm. Emergency Authorities in Valencia They met early to analyze the situation, which complicates the rescues due to the limited access to victimsMazón acknowledged.
Images circulate on social networks shocking floodswith cars dragged, destroyed bridgesextreme bailouts and million-dollar losses. People take refuge at heights, from the roofs of buildings to trucks, to avoid being swept away.
Various routes in Valencia, including sections of the A-3, A-7, CV-36, V-30 and V-31have been cut. He Metrovalencia service remains suspended with no forecast of resuming today, and the Educational centers in parts of Valencia, including the capital, are closed this Wednesday.
A minute of silence in Congress
The Congress of Deputies observed a minute of silence on Wednesday in honor of the victims.
“Desolate at the latest news (…) Our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the more than 50 deceased. Strength, encouragement and all the necessary support for all those affected,” the Royal House noted in X.
Several messages of solidarity with Spain came from the European Union and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that “Europe is ready to help.”
This is the deadliest bad weather event in Spain since August 1996, when 86 people died due to torrential rains that destroyed a campsite in the province of Huesca.
The state meteorological agency, Aemet, warned that the rains will continue at least until Thursday. Scientists warn that extreme weather events, such as heat waves and storms, are becoming more intense due to the change climatic.
“We are in a warmer planet with more energy availability. Precipitation patterns are altering in our territory. Several studies point towards more torrential and short-lived rains“, indicated the Aemet in a first assessment.