Emergency response efforts underway as floods devastate Spain
After Valencia, Barcelona has also experienced heavy rains and flooding. Authorities issued a Red Alert and advised the public to avoid travelling.
Over 70 flights were cancelled, and an additional 20 were redirected to other airports due to torrential rain. Meanwhile, in Valencia, the death toll has risen to 221, including two Romanian citizens. A week after the disaster, intervention teams, volunteers, and local residents are working to clear mud and debris left by the flooding and are searching for missing persons. Authorities in Madrid have deployed military personnel to the affected areas, while the public has accused officials of political opportunism.
A severe storm, accompanied by torrential rain and hail, struck Barcelona. Dozens of flights were cancelled or redirected, and the airport was closed for several hours. Images reveal flooded platforms and parked aeroplanes, while affected individuals reported that they could not access the parking areas because they were also flooded.
“We did not anticipate anything like this. When we arrived at the airport, the underground parking was flooded; it resembled a river,” recounted one passenger.
“There are people, like myself, who were in this area and needed to take a car to reach central Barcelona. We should have been cautious, especially after what happened in Valencia over the weekend. We are fearful,” added another passenger.
“At 10:00 when we arrived, the highway was already flooded; we were alarmed. I saw that the flight had been cancelled, with cancelled flights displayed on the screens. At that moment, I considered going to the car to work from there, but all access routes to the parking lot were already flooded. The police advised us not to go to the parking lot, so we are stuck here, unable to do anything else,” stated another passenger.
In Valencia, search efforts for missing persons are focused on garages, including the vast underground parking facility of the city's largest shopping mall. The 1,800 parking spaces quickly filled with water and mud last week when Valencia was struck by a tsunami-like flood. The intervention team used four pumps to remove the water.
One firefighter recounted working for 36 consecutive hours without sleep on the day of the deluge that swept through the region. “That day was overwhelming. This work can be traumatic, but it was absolute chaos. People were calling repeatedly, crying and saying they would die if we did not help them. They were pleading for our assistance. It was very traumatic,” he said.
Among the deceased are a British couple, Don and Terry Turner, who died while attempting to refuel their car, according to their daughters. The woman accused Spanish authorities of failing to take necessary precautions.
A week after the tragedy, intervention teams, aided by five thousand soldiers, continue their search for dozens of missing individuals. In the devastated communities, locals and volunteers are working alongside the military to clear flooded roads, homes, and garages.
Authorities announced plans to send an additional 10,000 troops to the affected area. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that he would allocate over 10 billion euros to provide emergency assistance to citizens and businesses impacted by the historic floods. This package includes direct aid as well as tax relief for companies and individuals.
It is important to note that the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Spain has issued a travel advisory for Moldovan citizens.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
