PAIPORTA: Spain has deployed more troops to assist in the search for dozens still missing following catastrophic floods that have claimed 200 lives.
The disaster, the deadliest of its kind in decades for the European nation, primarily impacted the eastern Valencia region, causing widespread destruction, including tossed vehicles and collapsed bridges.
Rescue teams, equipped with drones and sniffer dogs, continue their urgent efforts to locate survivors among the debris. The government is sending an extra 500 troops to support the 1,200 already on the ground engaged in search, rescue, and logistical operations.
Many cut-off areas remain without access to water, food, or electricity three days after the floods began, with numerous roads and rail lines still blocked, raising concerns that the death toll could rise.
Amparo Fort, the mayor of Chiva, highlighted the scale of the devastation, noting, “There is still a pile of cars in the industrial estate, mountains and mountains of cars. Many must be empty, but we are sure others are occupied.”
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According to the national weather service AEMET, the town west of Valencia recorded an astonishing 491 mm of rain in just eight hours on Tuesday, nearly the equivalent of a year’s worth of rainfall.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged residents in the hardest-hit provinces of Valencia and Castellon to follow safety guidelines and stay indoors. “Right now, the most important thing is to save as many lives as possible,” Sanchez said, as he directed resources to rescue and relief efforts.
Meanwhile, King Felipe VI warned that the emergency “is still not over,”. Three days of national mourning has been announced with flags on government buildings lowered, and moments of silence were observed across Spain to honor the flood victims.
