After the flood disaster in Spain, the death toll has risen to over 200. Because people are still missing, a further increase in the number of victims is expected, the emergency services announced on Friday. Aerial photographs from the disaster area show the extent of the destruction in the eastern Spanish province of Valencia (see video above).
In many places in the affected areas there is a lack of food, water and electricity. Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles wants to send more soldiers to the areas devastated by the storms than the 1,700 already deployed. The number will be increased as long as it is necessary for rescue and reconstruction work, she said on state broadcaster RTVE on Friday.
Minister of Defense: “No limits to resources”
Communities and towns in the Mediterranean region of Valencia, near the major city of the same name, are particularly affected. Robles mentioned the towns of Ribarroja, Paiporta and Algemesí, where the army has not yet been deployed and where troops are now being sent. There will be no limits to resources. She did not provide a specific figure on how many additional soldiers would be added on Saturday.
More and more volunteers are also gathering in the city of Valencia, as the newspaper “Las Provincias” reported. They collect donations, distribute them in the affected urban areas and, equipped with equipment, assist in the clean-up efforts. First contact points have also been set up in the city for people entering the city from surrounding towns, often covered in mud and on foot over a bridge, in search of food, drinking water or shelter, as RTVE reported.
Three days of national mourning declared
The storm in Spain was caused by the weather phenomenon ‘cold drop’ (gota fría). The disease occurs frequently in the Spanish Mediterranean during the months of September and October and is based on strongly fluctuating sea and air temperatures. The phenomenon occurs when the first low reaches of the Atlantic Ocean push cold, moist air over the warm Mediterranean Sea. The central government in Madrid has declared three days of national mourning from Thursday. She also promised those affected rapid reconstruction assistance.
Heavy rain now also reached Mallorca
The low pressure area reached the Balearic island of Mallorca on Friday afternoon. Heavy showers were the result. Palma de Mallorca airport suffered hours of delays. As a precaution, the Spanish weather service Aemet has issued the orange warning level for the entire archipelago, which also includes Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Cabrera. The government of the Balearic Islands advised against all outdoor activities. The second highest warning level applies to the islands until 8 a.m. on Saturday morning. It is expected to remain changeable in the coming days, although it will probably not rain as heavily again.
Source: Krone
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