JOSE JORDAN / AFP
Floods in the south-east of Spain have left at least 211 dead, according to the latest report announced by the Prime Minister.
SPAIN – The weather is stabilizing in southeastern Spain, giving way to relief operations after four days of devastating floods. On the morning of Saturday, November 2, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reported a new toll, according to which rising waters had caused at least 211 deaths.
The relief efforts deployed in the disaster areas have at this stage “ located and recorded 211 deaths »declared the head of government during an institutional declaration, specifying that operations were continuing to find the missing people.
For his part, the president of the Valencia region, violently affected by the floods, explained that there was still no official figure concerning the number of missing people, while residents without news of their loved ones are increasing their number. calls for help on social networks.
“It would be imprudent to give a figure”Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska confirmed on the Antena 3 television channel. Nevertheless, “ it is probable, given the circumstances and the feedback from experts (…) that there will be more deaths”he clarified.
10,000 additional soldiers and police sent to the scene
The Prime Minister also announced this Saturday the sending of 5,000 soldiers and 5,000 additional police and gendarmes to help the inhabitants of the south-east of the country. These reinforcements will be deployed “ in the coming hours »he assured.
MANAURE QUINTERO / AFP
Illutration photo of a meeting of the government crisis committee, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stands on the right, alongside the president of the Valencia region, Carlos Mazon.
At the same time, outpourings of solidarity continue, particularly in Valencia. For the second day in a row, thousands of people gathered this Saturday at dawn to go on foot to neighboring towns, equipped with shovels and brooms, according to an AFP journalist.
“Yesterday we brought tons of food and water to the most affected municipalities”assured Susana Camarero, vice-president of the Valencia region. “Many villages were isolated and we called local councils to find out what they needed, but there were no phones”she also described.
“The aid is insufficient. Fortunately, Spain knows how to show solidarity”told AFP a resident who came on Friday to bring two carts full of food with her sister to their brother's house in Paiporta. In this town of more than 25,000 inhabitants, at least 62 deaths have been recorded.
On Friday, the number of volunteers was such that the authorities called on residents going by car to the affected communities to stay at home, so as not to clog the roads and prevent the passage of help.
Also see on The HuffPost:
Reading this content may result in cookies being placed by the third-party operator who hosts it. Taking into account the choices you have expressed regarding the deposit of cookies, we have blocked the display of this content. If you wish to access it, you must accept the “Third Party Content” category of cookies by clicking on the button below.
Play Video
