“Everything is destroyed, I don't believe it”… The inhabitants of Paiporta, cut off from the world, try to save what they can

The town of Paiporta, 27,000 inhabitants in the suburbs of Valencia, is the epicenter of the tragedy which struck the south-east of Spain on the night of Tuesday October 29 to Wednesday October 30. This is where 40 of the 95 victims of the deadly floods were found, while the equivalent of a year's rain fell on the area in a few hours.

The flood gave way to tangled carcasses, uprooted trees, pylons and cables toppled to the ground. And to the mud, which covers every square meter of the city. While rescuers in orange outfits are still looking for the missing on Thursday morning, machines must come and clear the road to allow crane trucks to remove the vehicles and end the isolation of Paiporta.

Because the city has been cut off from the world since Tuesday and to get there, you have to walk a good half hour. Salvador makes the journey to come and lend a hand to his brother, because “his garage is flooded”, he explains.

“There is a meter of water with mud everywhere. In the street, the cars are against each other. Everything is destroyed. It's crazy. Even though I see it before my eyes, I don't don't believe it.”

Salvador, inhabitant of Paiporta

at franceinfo

Maria, a resident, spent the whole day trying to drain water from her house because “the ground floor and garage are completely flooded”. “We are trying to remove the mud. We have cleared the sidewalk to be able to pass. We have no water, no electricity. But hey, we have to continue, we have no choice!” she says.



In Paiporta, in the Valencia region, flood damage is very significant. (WILLIAM DE LESSEUX / RADIO FRANCE)

In Paiporta, in the Valencia region, flood damage is very significant. (WILLIAM DE LESSEUX / RADIO FRANCE)

Salvador Torres, another resident, had to take all his belongings out onto the sidewalk. He is still stunned by the violence of the flood: “I felt so helpless (…) The street was just water, rising, rising, my car was there, right in front. The water lifted it and carried it away at the other end of the street.

Marc Sola no longer recognizes his neighborhood, and one of the streets that was “so busy” usually where There is “always cars, people going to work, doing their shopping.” “There’s nothing left of it, there’s just mud everywhere since what happened,” he notes. All the businesses are empty, the power of the water has washed away everything.


In Paiporta, in the Valencia region, flood damage is very significant. (WILLIAM DE LESSEUX / RADIO FRANCE)

In Paiporta, in the Valencia region, flood damage is very significant. (WILLIAM DE LESSEUX / RADIO FRANCE)

In Paiporta, in the Valencia region, flood damage is very significant. (WILLIAM DE LESSEUX / RADIO FRANCE)

Alejandra decided to leave the city, her two daughters in her arms, having difficulty recovering from a “total shock.” More, “the most important thing is that my daughters and I are together and that everyone is well”, she said, before going to see her family.

Many residents are in shock, but many are angry as well. Tuesday, the alerts on cell phones were sent much too late, Diego believes. “The alarm rang on my cell phone when there was already nothing more we could do”he regrets.

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