Disaster in Valencia: over 200 dead, thousands missing and a country on its knees.

The devastating floods that hit Valencia and other areas in southeastern Spain have so far caused 213 confirmed deaths, with the number threatening to rise further. Of those victims, 210 were in the Valencia region, two in Castile-La Mancha and one in Andalusia. In addition to the dead, authorities report 1.900 missing and 120.000 displaced. More than 300.000 people have been left without access to drinking water and electricity, with essential services collapsing.

The intervention of the institutions

To deal with the emergency, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced from the Moncloa Palace the deployment of 10.000 men, including military and police officers. Of these, 5.000 are soldiers, supported by another 5.000 Civil Guard and National Police, the largest deployment of forces in Spain in peacetime. To date, 3.633 soldiers from various corps are operating in the flooded areas, including 1.992 from the Military Emergency Unit (UME), 1.093 from the army, 286 from the navy and 200 from the air force. There are also 57 members of the Royal Guard and five from the General Health Inspectorate of Defense.

Relief in action and the visit of the Royals

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will visit the areas affected by the disaster. This Sunday they will accompany Pedro Sánchez and the president of the Valencian Community, Carlos Mazón, to bring comfort to the population and thank the rescuers. However, the National Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has issued a new warning for possible intense storms in the same areas, further worrying an already exhausted population.

The Drama of the Shopping Center and the Parking-Cemetery

One of the symbolic places of this tragedy is the underground parking lot of the Bonaire shopping center, in Aldaya, where UME divers are working tirelessly to search for possible victims. At the time of the flood, the area was home to hundreds of people. The parking lot, with its 5.700 parking spaces, has become a death trap, and according to the rescuers present, the situation is shocking: "It's a cemetery," they said. Firefighters and rescuers are trying to empty the area of ​​water to recover any bodies and assess the damage.

Criticisms of the emergency management

The management of the emergency has been the subject of strong controversy. The president of the Valencian Community, Carlos Mazón, is accused of not having raised the emergency level in time, which would have included his taking exclusive command of the rescue operation. Podemos has also criticized Prime Minister Sánchez for not declaring a state of national alert. Sánchez responded by stressing the need for collaboration between the central government and local authorities, but admitted that the response so far has not been sufficient, acknowledging “shortcomings and collapses in services”.

Volunteers and help

The response from the population has been moving. Thousands of volunteers have gathered at the City of Arts in Valencia, ready to help with the relief effort. Divided into teams and coordinated by the Civil Protection, they are providing water, food and cleaning products to the most affected areas. However, the region has asked citizens to avoid reaching the flooded areas by car so as not to hinder the rescue efforts. Medical teams and emergency units are also operating in Valencia to provide medical care to people who are intoxicated or injured during the clean-up operations.

The difficult recovery and the economic impact

The flood has hit the local economy hard, with around 4.500 businesses damaged, including 1.800 destroyed. The Valencia Chamber of Commerce estimates that the disaster has affected more than 845.000 people, 31,8% of the province's population. Roads are littered with debris, piled-up vehicles and mud, and some neighborhoods are still cut off and without electricity. The mayor of Aldaia, one of the hardest-hit areas, said "the situation is desperate" and called for urgent help to remove debris and restore essential services.

A country in mourning, but united

This flood, described as the most serious of the century in Europe, represents an unprecedented tragedy for Spain. “There will be time to analyze the mistakes and negligence, but now we must remain united,” said Pedro Sánchez. The situation, aggravated by climate change, has raised questions about the adequacy of infrastructure and prevention systems in the face of extreme weather events. However, the solidarity and commitment of the population demonstrate the strength of a country that rises up even in the face of tragedy.

A glimmer of hope

Despite the pain and hardship, some rescue episodes offer a ray of hope. A woman was found alive after three days trapped in her car in a flooded underpass in Benetússer. Episodes like this testify to the courage and determination of rescuers, who never stop fighting to save lives.