‘Where is the military?’ – Upset Residents of Valencia Seek Additional Support and Celebrate Volunteer Efforts
Residents and volunteers from the Valencia region have issued a heartfelt plea for greater assistance from the military, as well as regional and national governments, to address the extensive damage and devastation left in the wake of catastrophic floods that have inundated numerous towns.
On the previous day, a wave of volunteers spontaneously converged upon the area, inadvertently hindering access for trained emergency responders striving to reach certain locations. This prompted local authorities to devise a strategy regarding the best way to deploy these well-meaning individuals.
Nevertheless, locals asserted that these volunteers were not only organized but also called for additional manpower to help clear away the thick mud that has settled everywhere.
“Where is the army to lend us a hand?” questioned 74-year-old Emilia, a local shopkeeper, with palpable urgency. “Where’s the assistance we so desperately need?”
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“Homes are collapsing around us, yet no one seems to notice,” she lamented. “Where are all these crucial support systems? It’s more than just my home; it’s a collective disaster. We’re throwing out furniture, discarding everything.”
As she opened up about her plight, she asked, “When will the aid arrive that can provide us with essentials like refrigerators and washing machines? Right now, we can’t even wash our clothes or take a proper shower. This situation is dire.”
Volunteers congregated at Valencia’s iconic City of Arts and Sciences, ready to venture into the hardest-hit areas.
Fifty-two-year-old nurse Maria Jose Gilabert expressed deep concern, stating, “People are completely devastated.”
“It’s not that help isn’t coming—indeed, aid is arriving from all corners of Spain—but rather that there’s little hope for a quick return to normalcy here,” she continued, her tone solemn.
Ramon Felguera, a local resident, remarked on the impressive influx of volunteers, asserting there was “a human tide sweeping in.”
“Words fail to encapsulate our gratitude,” he emphasized. “What these people have been doing is beyond commendable.”
However, desperation has driven some individuals to looting, as they search for sustenance and basic necessities. Police officials reported the arrest of 27 individuals for raiding shops and offices across Valencia.
On a brighter note, over 90% of households in Valencia restored power yesterday, according to utility provider Iberdrola. Yet, a significant number of residents still find themselves without electricity, particularly in isolated areas that are difficult for rescuers to navigate.
In a concerted effort to locate individuals currently unaccounted for and to assist the storm’s survivors, approximately 2,000 soldiers were dispatched. Meanwhile, a new weather alert looms over the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, and Valencia, forecasting more rainfall over the weekend.
Officials indicated that the death toll is unfortunately likely to rise. This disaster stands as Spain’s most significant flood crisis in over fifty years—marking a sorrowful chapter in European history, as it is reported to be the most lethal flooding event since the 1970s.
For more information: Check out before-and-after satellite images depicting the devastation across Spain. Spain embarks on its most extensive peacetime disaster recovery mission, with the death toll now at 211.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
