JAKARTA – Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Teresa Ribera, who is competing for a top post in the European Commission, defended the country’s handling of deadly floods last month in Valencia. He said climate change was the main cause of the disaster.
Speaking to lawmakers, Ribera, who is also environment and energy minister, said long-delayed additional flood defenses in the Valencia region would likely not prevent the worst-related disaster to floods in Spanish history because the defenses are designed for smaller disasters.
“Efforts like this are obviously not enough to contain the magnitude of flood water,” he said.
But Ribera acknowledged those efforts could limit the impacts of flooding that has killed more than 220 people, clean bridges and roads and destroy thousands of homes.
The main opposition party, the People’s Party (PP), accused Ribera of lack of action and ignoring his duties and tried to dissuade his appointment as European commissioner for environmental policies and trade competition.
The nomination has not yet been approved by the European Parliament.
The central government said Darah’s government, led by PP’s Carlos Mazon, was responsible for the slow response to warnings issued by state meteorologists and hydrographers.
Majon said the information he received was insufficient, inaccurate and late to issue warnings to residents.
The local government is seen as responsible for disaster management in Spain, but the incident quickly led to a mutual blame game between left-wing and conservative governments.
Ribera said Spain needed to strengthen the capacity of its civil servants to respond to the growing threat of climate events.
“Action protocols, regulations and warnings must be adapted to climate risks. But there is no point in having all the necessary information if those who need to respond do not know how to do so,” he said.
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