The Spanish Ministry of the Interiorin collaboration with the Valencian Generalitatcoordinated the arrival of experts and specific equipment after the activation of the Civil Protection Mechanism of theEuropean Union last November 8. Offers of aid from Morocco, Portugal and France were accepted to speed up the clearance and reconstruction work, the ministry said in a press release.
Morocco was one of the first countries to offer aid after the October 29 floods. Once the offer is approved, 24 trucks and 70 Moroccan operators specialized in the transport and management of sludge and waste will be mobilized to support local efforts in the affected villages.
Portugal is also providing support with 20 pumping machines of varying capacities, seven excavators and two heavy transport trucks. France will be present with sludge loading and unloading equipment, as well as four super-heavy vehicles capable of transporting large quantities of extracted materials to dedicated destruction sites.
“At the same time, the General Directorate of Civil Protection is analyzing the technical feasibility of other offers of aid from European countries. These proposals will be submitted to the Valencian Generalitat for decision. If accepted, they will complement the efforts of recovery and reconstruction of disaster areas”, specifies the same source.
Torrential rains expected in Spain: schools closed in the east of the country
National weather agency Aemet placed parts of Valencia, as well as Catalonia in the northeast, Andalusia in the south and the Balearic Islands on orange alert, indicating a high risk of heavy rainfall until Thursday. Torrential rains are in fact expected this Wednesday in the south of the country, particularly in Valencia, already affected by recent devastating floods, where local authorities have announced the closure of schools in several localities.
This alert comes two weeks after an exceptional Mediterranean storm caused the deadliest floods Spain has seen in decades, causing 223 deaths, mainly in the Valencia region.
In this province, around fifty municipalities, including Chiva, Aldaia, Paiporta and Sueca, have suspended classes and closed public infrastructure to limit unnecessary travel, reports the Spanish press.
In Valencia, military vehicles equipped with megaphones warned the population of the arrival of this new storm, according to images broadcast by Spanish public television TVE.
Although forecasted rainfall amounts are lower than on October 29, authorities fear further flooding due to partial blockage of sewer systems by accumulated mud.
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