More than 200 people have been reported dead in the worst floods of the century in the eastern Spanish region of Valencia, as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Saturday ordered an additional 10,000 soldiers and police officers to be deployed to affected areas.
Almost all of the deaths were recorded in the Valencia region, where thousands of security and emergency services personnel are clearing debris and mud in search of bodies and survivors, according to French news agency AFP.
Prime Minister Sanchez said in a televised address that it was the second deadliest flood in Europe this century. He announced a major increase in security forces dedicated to relief operations.
More deaths expected
Restoration of law and order and distribution of aid is being prioritized in flood-ravaged towns and villages, where food is scarce and water and electricity are cut off.
Authorities have come under fire for a lack of early warning systems, and some affected residents have complained that relief efforts have been too slow.
Prime Minister Sánchez said: ‘I know the response is not enough, there are problems and severe shortages. Cities covered in mud, desperate people searching for their relatives. We have to improve.’
In the ground-zero towns of Alfafar and Saidawi, AFP reporters saw no military personnel as residents shoveled mud from their homes and firefighters pumped water from garages and tunnels.
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Chiva resident Mario Silvestri, 86, said: ‘Politicians make a lot of promises, help will come when help comes.’
Authorities in Valencia have restricted road access for two days to allow rescue agencies to carry out search, rescue and logistics operations more effectively.
Authorities have said that dozens of people are missing.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande Marlasca told radio station Cadena Ser on Friday that it was “reasonable” to believe there would be more deaths, but exact figures were difficult to determine due to severe damage to telephone and transport networks. is
On the other hand, Prime Minister Sanchez said that electricity has been restored in 94 percent of the homes affected by the power outage and almost half of the telephone lines have been repaired.
According to Transport Minister Oscar Puente: ‘Some motorways have reopened but local and regional roads are patchy, meaning some places will likely be inaccessible by land for weeks.’
