Video: watson/emanuella kälin
The death toll from devastating storms in Spain continues to rise. Meanwhile, more than 1,000 people are still trapped in cars in the Valencia region. Overview.
October 30, 2024 15:01October 31, 2024 05:34
The number of victims keeps rising
The search for bodies, missing people and those cut off from the outside world continued overnight in Spain after the storm killed at least 95 people. “However, due to darkness, many activities had to be suspended until daybreak,” Iñigo Vila, head of the Spanish Red Cross's emergency department, told state television RTVE in the evening.
Spanish media reported that the dead included at least four children and six elderly people in nursing homes. There are fears the number of victims will continue to rise. Officials have not provided a total number of missing people. Media said in the evening that “dozens” of people were missing, citing authorities and those affected.
The situation in Valencia is particularly devastating
The situation is particularly bad in the Valencia region, which is very popular with holidaymakers and where 92 of the 95 confirmed deaths so far have recovered. Other regions of the Mediterranean, including Andalusia and Murcia, as well as Castilla-La Mancha, have also been severely affected. The central government in Madrid announced three days of national mourning starting Thursday. She also pledged to quickly help the affected people with reconstruction efforts.
In Valencia, swarms of cars were swept away. Image: trapezoid
Meanwhile, about 1,200 people remain trapped in their vehicles, some for more than 24 hours. The Civil Guard police department said in the evening that an estimated 5,000 vehicles were stranded on the A3 and A7 motorways in the Valencia region. These are cars, buses or trucks, some of which have been abandoned by their drivers and passengers. But some people are said not to want to leave their vehicles.
The large amounts of water caused tremendous violence.Image: trapezoid
Valencia's weather agency Aemet spoke of a “historic storm” in its preliminary assessment. Writing in Sea and Air magazine, Aimet said it was the Valencian region's worst “cold snap” (gota fría) this century, when the first waves of low Atlantic foothills brought cold, moist air over the warm This happens when the Mediterranean Sea.
golf ball sized hail
In addition to the heavy rain, there was also hail and strong winds. In the Andalusian coastal town of El Ejido, not far from Almeria, hailstorms hit particularly hard on Tuesday night, causing extensive damage to fields and hundreds of vehicles. “The hailstones were as big as golf balls,” farmer Mercedes González (46) told El Pais newspaper.
“It seems like the end of the world.”
Dramatic scenes and cries for help
Stories from those affected sometimes illustrate how serious the situation is. “I'm holding on to this plant, but there's nothing around me, nothing, just water, like in the middle of the ocean” – Matt Jurado appeals to relatives and friends for help in a terrified voice via mobile phone video. At that time, her car had already been washed away by the water in Piporta, near the metropolis of Valencia. This young Spanish woman lived through a nightmare but was rescued and escaped the horror.
including in offices and shopping malls
Many people were stuck in their houses, offices or shopping malls, like Mette Jurado, making emergency calls on social media. Many people also called RTVE television and other media because they were unable to contact relatives and friends. “I'm looking for my 40-year-old son Enrique, who drove his van to work yesterday and I haven't heard from him since.”said one pensioner on RTVE, almost with tears in his eyes.
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Cars destroyed after storm in Valencia.
Those: Keystone/Alberto Saez
People sought shelter on the roofs of cars and houses completely surrounded by water, as can be seen in countless videos in the media and online. In addition to firefighters and civil defense personnel, more than 1,000 members of the military emergency assistance unit UME were deployed in Valencia alone to participate in search and rescue efforts.
“War-like scene”
An RTVE reporter spoke of “war-like scenes” on a flooded street, with destroyed vehicles partially stacked on top of each other. “It's like hell”said one resident. A recently rescued pensioner cried in front of the camera and said:
“That was terrible, thank you, thank you guardian angel for saving me.”
Destruction after Spanish floods
Video: watson/emanuella kälin
Government and EU announce help
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez encouraged those affected and promised quick help. «We will use all available means. We won't let you down. ” He added:
“All Spain is crying with you.”
The government declared three days of national mourning starting Thursday.
The European Union has also offered help. “We have activated the Copernicus satellite system to help coordinate rescue teams. We have offered to activate our civil protection»European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Brussels.
Swiss tourists stranded
A Swiss tour group was also temporarily blocked near Valencia. The passengers were not injured and were later able to continue their journey on a replacement bus. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA) made the announcement on request on Wednesday.
Regarding the storm, the Swiss Federal Football Association also wrote that it was not aware of any injuries to any Swiss nationals. Swiss citizens on site must be aware of the current situation and follow the instructions of local authorities.
Did the warning come too late?
Although the full scope of the tragedy is not yet known and search and rescue efforts will continue for some time, debate has begun about the possible perpetrators. There was discussion in the media and on the Internet about whether authorities should have warned citizens earlier or better. Several city leaders also issued corresponding criticisms. After all, we know that the weather phenomenon of “dana” or “snub” can be dangerous. This phenomenon occurs more frequently in southern and eastern Spain in early autumn, when the first Atlantic lows blow across the warm Mediterranean with cold, moist air.
Local authorities and experts deny the accusations. Respected meteorologist Francisco Martín Leon told Euronews that it was impossible to predict such “cruel consequences” because they depended on a variety of factors. Meteorological service Aemet provided adequate and timely information, issuing Level 3 (yellow), Level 2 (orange) and Level 1 (red) severe weather warnings.
Weather forecasts give us hope
The weather is expected to improve on Thursday. Severe weather warnings remain in effect for parts of Andalusia and Extremadura in the west and parts of Catalonia in the northeast of the country. The amount of precipitation forecast is limited. As authorities have repeatedly warned, the disaster is far from over. (con/cma/sda/dpa)
More information about the Spanish storm:
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