Floods in Spain: residents of Sedavi forced to step over “car graveyard” to reach their homes

In Sedavi, one of the villages most affected by the dramatic floods, car wrecks block everything.

In Sedavi, one of the villages most affected by these floods, the wrecked cars give an apocalyptic vision, also making the work of rescuers extremely difficult.

So much so that the locality is nicknamed “the cemetery of vehicles”. Some streets are completely inaccessible, because dozens and dozens of vehicles are crowded together. To be able to access their homes, residents must climb over them.

In the neighborhood today, members of the Guardia Civil are present, as well as rescue teams, but they are having difficulty providing help to residents. They look at the vehicles one by one to check if there are any new potential victims inside.

Indeed, the Spanish government announced yesterday that there are still dozens and “dozens of people” who are wanted. The toll should therefore increase further in the coming hours.

The victims in Sedavi are still without electricity, some without running water. Some, even three days after the floods, are still impatiently waiting for help.

500 additional soldiers dispatched to the site

The Spanish Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, announced this Friday the arrival of 500 additional soldiers in the south-east of Spain, to reinforce the 1,200 already present, to participate in aid operations for flood victims.

In an interview with national television TVE, Robles also assured that the central government would send further military reinforcements if necessary. “We will send the 120,000 (members) of the army if necessary”she said.

The reinforcements arriving on Friday bring to 1,700 the number of soldiers deployed in the Valencia region, devastated Tuesday evening and during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday by terrible floods which caused the death of 155 people. Three other people died in neighboring areas and there are dozens missing.

The dispatch of these 500 additional soldiers was announced Thursday evening by the central government and followed a pressing request from the president of the Valencia region, Carlos Mazón, whose government is struggling to cope with a dramatic situation.

Asked about the tasks of these soldiers, Ms. Robles indicated that it was to help “scoop the water” et “allow transportation for aid distribution”. These soldiers belong to the Military Emergency Unit (UME), which intervenes during natural disasters.

spain Floods in Spain sedavi