Par
Julien Damboise
Published on
Nov. 4 2024 at 5:18 p.m
; updated Nov 4, 2024 at 5:50 p.m.
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Rescue continue to be busy at the start of the week in Spain, affected by the worst natural disaster in its recent history. According to a latest assessment, at least 217 people died in its floods, including 213 in the Valencia region alone.
Search operations continue, including with the reinforcement of volunteer firefighters from the Lyon region during this long weekend.
First aid workers from the metropolis of Lyon quickly mobilized
A few hours after the rising waters, the Intervention, Protection, Prevention, Rescue and Security Group (GIPS), a non-governmental organization based in Villeurbanne in the Lyon metropolis, announced the sending of relief resources to Valence.
Four people took the road towards the disaster area, according to Badra Yann, president and founder of the association. And it is to Picanyastill in the province of Valencia, that emergency professionals from the region have contributed their know-how.
An operation made possible thanks, in particular, to donations from Internet users via a quickly launched online prize pool.
“50 cm of mud everywhere”
On site, some are very happy to see the French arrive Friday evening, while others hoped for earlier means: “There was people with eyes wide openhappy with our arrival. Others thought they would see the army arriving by helicopter, particularly in areas cut off from the world, which did not happen. We don’t throw stones at local emergency services, it’s complicated when an entire town is devastated,” explains Yann.
The Villeurbanne fire soldier is immediately marked by the vision of entire neighborhoods under water: “The scale of the disaster is shocking, with at least one fallen bridge, cars and 50 cm of mud all over the city.”
@actulyon Devastating floods in Spain: shocking images of this Lyon firefighter on mission in Valencia. Emergency services continue to work at the start of the week in Spain after the worst natural disaster in its recent history. The Intervention, Protection, Prevention, Rescue and Security Group (GIPS), a non-governmental organization based in Villeurbanne in the metropolis of Lyon, had sent reinforcements to Picanya, in the province of Valence. #flood #españa #bomberos #France #fyp #omg #lyon
♬ i walk this earth all by myself – Ekkstacy
The Lyonnais take care of a parking lot
Local authorities asked Lyon firefighters to go to an underground car park particularly affected by flooding. “ Two floors were underwater we had to empty everything using our pumps, while ensuring that no bodies had remained submerged.”
Fortunately, no additional victims have been reported at this site, although the concern has not completely dissipated since one level was still submerged at the latest news.
“Bravo France”
Faced with the scale of the phenomenon, a immense solidaritytook place: “The next day, hundreds of people came on foot with brooms or shovels, saying they were available. It’s as if we were full of ants trying to solve a huge problem,” continues Yann Badra.
“Every half hour, and even in the middle of the night, people came in pajamas to bring us coffeefood, while we emptied the parking lot. Many people hugged us, crying, and saying “thank you for coming, well done France”. That’s why we do these missions.”
The fear of an even more terrible toll
The GIPS rescuers finally left Valence this Monday at midday, to return to Villeurbanne, “even ifour heart wants to stay» breathes Yann Badra.
The desire to do more, while the human toll risks increasing in the coming hours. “When we left, the media were already talking about several dozen missing people, the authorities are now talking about hundreds, even a thousand” continues our interlocutor.
Bodies which could still be trapped in the numerous underground car parks, completely flooded, which have not yet been inspected.
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