Valencia, Spain – As the search for victims of the catastrophic floods in the Valencia region continues, public outrage is mounting over the Spanish authorities’ response to the disaster, which has claimed at least 214 lives.
Hundreds of civil and military emergency workers are combing shopping centers, garages, and underground car parks in hopes of locating additional victims.
On Monday, yellow and amber weather warnings were issued for Valencia and neighboring Catalonia, with officials urging residents to avoid roads and steer clear of coastlines and rivers.
Heavy rain persisted in the Barcelona area, prompting the regional government to activate civil protection alerts and cancel all local train services.
More than 50 flights at El Prat Airport faced cancellations or severe delays due to the inclement weather.
The armed forces’ military emergencies unit (UME) focused efforts over the weekend on locations like the Bonaire shopping complex in Aldaia, where UME personnel utilized small boats and flashlights to navigate the 1,800 parking spaces.
So far, 50 vehicles have been recovered, but no bodies have been found.
The death toll spans across the region, with 210 fatalities reported in Valencia, three in Castilla-La Mancha, and one in Málaga.
Prime Minister Sánchez pledges resources while communities plead for immediate assistance and support.The number of missing persons remains unknown, raising fears that the toll could rise as relief efforts reach previously inaccessible areas.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez characterized the floods as the worst natural disaster in recent Spanish history, pledging that all necessary resources would be mobilized to address the aftermath.
An additional 2,500 soldiers joined the 5,000 already deployed, with a Spanish navy vessel arriving in Valencia to deliver supplies.
Despite the mobilization of emergency resources, public frustration is palpable, particularly regarding the regional government’s delayed emergency alert response when the floods began last Tuesday.
During a visit to the heavily impacted town of Paiporta, Sánchez and regional president Carlos Mazón faced anger from residents, culminating in mud being thrown at them and shouts of “Killers!” and “Get out!”
Sánchez acknowledged the collective grief but emphasized the need to focus on saving lives and rebuilding affected areas, stating, “The violence carried out by a few people won’t deflect the collective interest.”
Local leaders, like Guillermo Luján, the mayor of Aldaia, echoed the community’s distress, urging for immediate assistance as they confront the devastation.
“We have a town in ruins. We need to start over and I’m begging for help,” he said.
As the situation evolves, authorities are under increasing pressure to demonstrate effective leadership and restore public trust in the face of this unprecedented disaster.