Nearly a week after the so-called storm of the century in eastern Spain killed more than 200 people, the search for missing people in the disaster area continues.
Recently, all eyes have been on a shopping mall in Aldaya, a suburb of Valencia, the provincial capital. Water is pumped from an underground car park with 2,700 parking spaces. There are fears bodies may be found there and in other underground car parks.
Cleaning in Valencia. Image: trapezoid
“Emergency services have searched about 20 vehicles but have not found any bodies,” Aldaya mayor Guillermo Luján told state television RTVE, following dramatic reports from some media outlets. put into perspective. “The car park was almost empty; we estimate there were less than 100 vehicles parked there at the time of the flooding. You have to be careful, there are some exaggerated claims out there.
Warning against speculation
In the province of Valencia alone, popular with holidaymakers, the official death toll is between 217 and 213. Additionally, many people are still considered missing – there are still no official figures. Some media outlets have been reporting for days about 1,500, 2,000 or even 2,500 missing people. However, there is no source for these numbers. They may be based on emergency calls, some of which authorities received as the storm began. “We cannot speculate,” Territorial Policy Minister Ángel Víctor Torres said on the issue. You have to do it carefully.
An underground car park near Valencia. Image: trapezoid
Meanwhile, it's not just the remains of missing people that are being sought. People thought to be missing often turn up in many places. Most recently, police officer Iván García reported on RTVE on Monday about the situation of pensioner Josefa. “The joy when friends and family are reunited is huge and indescribable,” the official said. “She has been at home but cannot be contacted.” There are also “many people who are completely disoriented.”
Severe weather warnings no longer issued in disaster areas
At the same time, the cleanup and rescue work is getting smoother and smoother. On Monday, more than 7,500 military personnel were already on duty, in addition to some 10,000 police officers from the National Police and National Guard. They are supported by the fire department, civil protection and countless volunteers. The cleanup is expected to take days or even weeks. Rebuilding efforts could take months.
Cleaning in Valencia. Image: trapezoid
In Valencia on Tuesday, some towns received their usual rainfall for the year in just a few hours. There should be no significant rainfall in the affected areas on Monday. Weather service Aemet issued severe weather warnings for parts of Catalonia in the northeast of the country and the Extremadura region in the west. (lak/sda/dpa)
Destruction after Spanish floods
Video: Watson
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