Predictions of an increase in the number of dead in the floods that have ravaged Spain are being verified, with the latest information speaking of at least 158 victims (the 155 in Valencia). The previous count was 140 victims.
Spain is experiencing one of its worst natural disasters since the 1973 floods that killed 300 people.
Aerial shots capture the destruction in all its dimensions. Cars piled on top of each other, debris and mud everywhere, broken bridges and roads, clouds of black smoke coming out of large buildings. Images of biblical destruction.
🚁🚨We continue to work in collaboration with all emergency services in the areas affected by the #DANA
👉Aerial images of the area #Torrent and the surroundings of the V30 in #Valencia pic.twitter.com/PjYypiBh5C
— National Police (@policia) October 30, 2024
Sanchez: Stay in your homes
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, speaking at the Emergency Services Coordination Center in Valencia, called on residents to stay in their homes. As he said the area will be declared a disaster zone and the crisis level has been raised to 2.
“We will not abandon the people of Valencia. We will be with you as long as needed, we will find all the necessary resources. Our priority, obviously, right now is to locate the dead, to find the missing,” he said.
The death toll from the catastrophic floods in the city increases to 104.#DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels).
The numbers can multiply at any time, according to authorities.#Spain#Floods#GotaFría pic.twitter.com/brlT4XbCq1
— 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙤 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙮 (@Mario_Moray) October 31, 2024
Sanchez reiterated what the transport minister said earlier, that authorities fear the death toll will rise further, as many bodies are believed to be trapped in cars swept away by the rapids.
“The most important thing is that the Spanish know that the phenomenon is not over. The weather service has sounded the alarm in Valencia and elsewhere in Spain. And so I call on everyone to take into account the recommendations and follow the advice of the authorities. Please stay in your homes,” he said.
Looting the damaged businesses
Meanwhile some are trying to take advantage of the conditions of absolute disaster. Spanish police have arrested 39 people who looted the damaged businesses.
“A number of stolen items were recovered,” police said in a statement.
The @policia has arrested 39 people tonight as part of a special crime prevention device launched around the commercial areas most affected by the #DANA
➡️Many stolen effects have been recovered pic.twitter.com/biAcSh5STU
— National Police (@policia) October 31, 2024
“I’ve never seen anything like this before”
“We lost our business. We lost everything because of the floods. And now who will pay for it? We are completely devastated,” says Paco, a business owner near Valencia.
“We lost everything. We learned that it will rain again. It’s terrible, he’s never seen anything like this before,’ said Sandra.
Nine bodies were found in a garage in the La Torre area, Valencia’s mayor said. Maria Jose Catala said one of the victims was a local police officer.
No place is safe anymore. #ClimateCrisis#Zaragoza #Spainpic.twitter.com/1ps15OrfTu
— Parents For Future #EndFossilFuels – P4F Germany (@parents4future) July 6, 2023
#Spain #Death #toll #Stay #home
