Alexis, 19, is seated in front of the Valence town hall, nine days after the disaster. On the evening of October 29, this native of Plougastel (29) was at home, in Benimaclet, a student neighborhood in the city center. Earlier today, the European university instructed students to return home before the arrival of storm Dana. “Around 7 p.m., it started to really blow but the storm was not yet very strong compared to what we can observe in Brest,” he recalls.
Paradoxically, the regional government of Valencia is accused of negligence for having warned the population as a whole too late. “We saw videos of tornadoes, then massive floods and stacked cars,” continues the Finisterian. On the other hand, downtown Valencia was intact. It was really the next day that I realized the extent of the catastrophe.”
“I am very worried”
Three days later, Alexis joined the crowds of volunteers to help the victims. The student arrives early in the morning with two of his friends in the town of Catarroja, in the southern suburbs of Valencia. “We emptied the apartments so that the tractors could remove the trash and mud. What shocked me the most was the sadness in people's eyes. They were at the bottom of the hole.”
Alexis returns there the following days, while her classes have still not resumed. Neither do Lise’s. At 20 years old, this student from Brest is still marked by the disaster although the neighborhood where she lives was spared. “It’s hard to imagine that there is such poverty near us,” breathes Lise. “But, even outside the disaster areas, we feel that people are very saddened by the situation.” In addition, the floods in the Valencia region raise the issue of global warming, and the risk of an increase in this type of disaster. “There will surely be a reaction from the Spanish authorities but it will be too late, without global awareness,” says Alexis. “I’m very worried,” adds Lise. Disasters are becoming more and more deadly and violent. »
