This Friday, November 1, the situation could worsen with many missing people still being sought by emergency services. Are the numbers likely to climb further?
Tl;dr
- The death toll from floods in Spain stands at 205.
- Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warns that the danger persists.
- 1,700 soldiers were deployed to help the victims.
A constantly growing tragic toll
The south-east of Spain is hit by floods of apocalyptic scale. The human toll of this tragedy continues to grow. After reaching 158 deaths this Thursday, October 31, the number of deaths stands at 205 this Friday, November 1. Emergency services are still looking for “tens and tens» of missing people.
The Valencia region, the most affected
The Valencia region is the most bereaved by this disaster. Of the 205 deaths, 155 occurred in this region alone, mainly due to devastating mud torrents. Added to this toll are two deaths in Castile-La Mancha and one in Andalusia.
An ever-present danger
The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, during a visit to Valencia, insisted that the bad weather episode was “not over”. He urged area residents to stay home. A “red alert” has been issued by the National Meteorological Agency, signifying an extreme risk for certain areas of the province of Castellón.
Emergency and safety measures
Faced with this crisis, Spain mobilized its forces. The Ministry of Defense announced the arrival of 500 additional soldiers in the southeast of the country, to reinforce the 1,200 already present. These 1,700 soldiers participate in aid operations for flood victims. The Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, also indicated that in the face of looting and crimes, the security forces would demonstrate “absolute firmness».
