Warnings remain in place for southern Spain with further heavy rain likely today – Thousands of volunteers help search for missing
Emergency teams in Spain are continuing their efforts to locate dozens of people who are still missing after the worst flood disaster in generations.
More than 200 people have lost their lives so far, with most casualties in the Valencia region, but the death toll is expected to rise.
The floods destroyed bridges and covered cities in mud – leaving communities cut off without water, food or electricity.
And while the worst has now passed Valencia and the Mediterranean coast, warnings remain in place for southern Spain, with further heavy rain expected on Saturday. This is the Huelva region, which has already been severely affected by the rains. The city of Cartaya saw about two months’ worth of rain in just 10 hours.
Further south, in city of Jerez, hundreds of families had to flee their homes as heavy rain raised river levels.
Some residents say more lives could have been saved if local authorities had warned sooner about the risk of flooding.
Among them is Juan Gonzalez, who lives in the Valencian city of Aldaya, who told the BBC the loss there was devastating.
“This is an area prone to flash floods. It is outrageous that our local government did nothing about this, knowing this was coming,” he said.
Another local, Augustin, said the apartment where he lived with his wife and children was completely flooded and they had to move in with his parents.
Thousands of volunteers help currently the Spanish army and emergency services in the rescue and clean-up operation, and Valencia regional president Carlos Mazon said more troops would be deployed.
The Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez expressed his thanks to the volunteers on social media, calling them “an example of solidarity and unlimited dedication of Spanish society”.
He has pledged that his government will do whatever it takes to help those affected by the disaster.
In the devastated town of Paiporta, where more than 60 deaths have been reported so far, residents have expressed frustration that help is coming too late.
“There aren’t enough firefighters, the shovels haven’t arrived,” Paco Clemente, a 33-year-old pharmacist, told AFP news agency as he helped clear mud from a friend’s house.
Meanwhile dozens of people have been arrested for looting, with one Aldaia resident telling AFP he saw thieves grabbing items from an abandoned supermarket as “people are a bit desperate”.
Source :Skai
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