France sends around fifty rescuers and firefighters

To help Spain cope with the management of recent deadly floods in the Valencia region, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced this Monday, November 11, the sending of reinforcements as part of the European civil protection mechanism.

Spain continues to be hit by significant flooding. And thousands of volunteers, soldiers, police, civil guards and members of the emergency services are still trying to clear the streets covered in mud and debris, particularly in Valencia where the latest bad weather has left at least 222 dead according to a final assessment. To help the victims, Spain called for European solidarity this Monday, November 11, and France responded according to Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.

“As part of the European civil protection mechanism, 40 rescuers from military civil security formations and around ten territorial firefighters will be engaged in the coming hours to support the hard-hit population,” he said. announced on X.

The Civil Protection Mechanism, established in 2001, aims to “strengthen cooperation in civil protection between EU countries and 10 other Member States participating in the mechanism”, according to the European website.

“In the event of an emergency, any country can request assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism,” it is specified.

Disaster management criticized

This French aid comes as the tone rises in Spain: the victims criticize the management of the disaster both by the regional executive and by the Spanish central government.

“The government is doing what it must do. And what we must do is rebuild after this tragedy and revive economic and social activity,” said the head of government, Pedro Sánchez, on Monday during a press conference.

“Later, the political debate will focus on things to improve in the face of this climate emergency and, without doubt, in the face of taking political responsibilities which, of course, will have to be justified,” he continued.

Pedro Sánchez announced 3.8 billion euros in new aid this Monday. Among them is an envelope of 200 million euros for farmers, and another of 500 million intended to finance the evacuation of “thousands of tons of mud and debris” accumulated in the affected areas.

This aid comes in addition to a previous package of 10.6 billion euros presented last week by the Prime Minister, including tax relief, a three-month deferral of the repayment of property loans and support by the Central statement of expenses incurred by municipalities for the immense cleaning work.

On the ground, operations could be disrupted by the arrival of new precipitation, which led Aemet to classify part of the Valencia region on orange alert on Wednesday for possible “torrential rains”.