Valencia, the dark side of the Moon

Valencia. On the dark side of the moon of the most important natural catastrophe in Europe of this century, is the terrible failure of public powers to foresee and alert neighbors of the impending danger, ignoring scientific evidence. On the bright side, neighborhood self-management and selfless solidarity with the victims stand out, on the part of those who have the least, to fill the government vacuum.

Gallery: Thousands march in Valencia to demand the resignation of Carlos Mazón

The dominant citizen perception throughout the city and its surroundings is that the authorities’ response on October 29 was late and irresponsible. The president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón, locked himself up to eat for 3 hours (until 6 in the afternoon), completely incommunicado, with the journalist Maribel Vilaplana, to offer her to direct the public television A Punt. Not only did he not answer phone calls but he arrived 2 hours late to coordinate the DANA alert.

The authorities did not notify the inhabitants so that they could adequately prepare to face the flood. His delay and hesitations are inexplicable. About 10 hours passed between the heavy rain alert from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) and the telephone alert to citizens from the Civil Protection of the regional authorities, calling to avoid travel.

DANA caused at least 219 deaths. It hit nearly 90 municipalities. The affected area accounts for 22 percent of the community’s GDP. It had a direct and indirect impact on more than 400 thousand workers, and damages of about 28 billion euros. The president of the government, Pedro Sánchez, announced aid of 10.6 billion euros. But the private initiative judges that they are not enough.

The government’s neglect has raised an unstoppable wave of indignation. There are many questions and very few credible official explanations. Exhaustion, pain from loss, destruction of property, fear and helplessness have created a cocktail of unpredictable consequences. Not in vain, with the bonds going down, on November 3 in Paiporta the outraged neighbors threw mud at the king and shouted at him: murderer, murderer! and “stop talking and get a fucking shovel.”

Impressive, too, is the popular solidarity that has filled the gaps in the government vacuum. It is a selfless support, without cameras or applause, from Senegalese, Latin Americans, Moroccans, gypsies and young people, who have thrown themselves into collecting supplies and cleaning equipment, and dedicated themselves to the tasks of removing debris and mud.

Singing the song: “Come on, come on, no one can sink us,” a group of Senegalese, without equipment, gloves, or water boots, full of mud, carry out cleaning tasks in Paiporta, with what they have at hand: wheelbarrows , boards, shovels, pullers and plastic buckets. Without public transportation, they reach the disaster zone on foot or by bicycle.

With the impulse of a selfless civic wave, from the most different places in Spain, bottles of water, brooms, cleaning materials, non-perishable food, gels, face masks, rakes, protective glasses, gloves, insulating tape, hammers, hoses arrive. , hydraulic pumps.

Mutual help arose from the first moment. Given the rising waters, Decathlon workers helped enter the store to protect victims, gave them dry clothing and shoes and the food and drink they had on hand.

On the other side of the sidewalk, misfortune upon misfortune, to the loss of human life, destruction of property and governmental helplessness is added a true epidemic of information intoxication, which, without evidence, inflates the number of deaths and amplifies the magnitude of the disaster. The disease of network journalism that dispenses (out of interest or lack of professionalism) with the most basic fact-checking has wreaked havoc and increased distrust.

Among many other cases, the Bonaire parking lot stands out, where it was reported that up to 800 people died underwater. When the rescue teams checked what was supposed to be a huge water cemetery, they did not find a single dead person. Despite this, it was insisted that the true size of the tragedy was hidden.

For now, today, Saturday, November 9, 40 social and union organizations held a demonstration towards the Palau de la Generalitat, headquarters of the local government, under the slogan “Mazón, resignation”, to demand the departure of the president and “demand responsibilities.” , truthful information, means for the victims and to denounce the ignominy of the Valencian government, which did not warn and which has caused, with that lack of foresight, fatalities.” Behind the mobilization is a vigorous neighborhood movement. Those in Mexico who experienced the 1985 earthquakes will understand what is at stake in this Spanish region.