Spain is in mourning. Photo: depositphotos.
Spain is experiencing one of the biggest natural disasters in recent decades – a devastating flood that has already killed at least 155 people. This figure continues to grow every hour, so the country’s authorities have declared three days of mourning in memory of the victims. This is reported by TimeUkraineIsrael with reference to Israelinfo.
Causes and extent of the disaster
Continuous heavy rains that hit the southern and eastern regions of Spain brought as much rainfall in a few hours as is usually seen in a whole year. As a result, many towns and villages were submerged. Roads were blocked, railways were disrupted and thousands of people were left without drinking water and electricity as a result of this natural disaster.
The tragedy began on Tuesday when heavy rainfall led to a sharp rise in river levels. The Valencia region was the hardest hit, with floods destroying homes and leaving thousands of damaged cars on the roads.
Photo: iestafeta.
Government response and support for victims
Local authorities have declared Valencia a disaster area. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stressed that “we will not leave the people of Valencia alone in their misfortune”, assuring support and resources to help the victims and their families.
In addition, the storm caused localised disasters in other regions, such as Andalusia and Castilla-La Mancha, leaving many people trapped in lower floors of buildings and in flooded cars. More than 1,000 military personnel were deployed to conduct search and rescue operations and recovery work, in addition to local and regional rescue services.
The urgency of the threat and criticism of the warning system
The Valencian and Spanish authorities continue to urge residents to be cautious as the risk of further flooding remains high. The National Meteorological Agency of Spain has declared a “red” alert level in certain areas.
Against the backdrop of this tragedy, there have been criticisms of the warning system in Valencia. Residents complain that flood warnings were sent to their mobile phones too late, when many people could no longer reach safe places. The mayor of the affected community of L’Alcudia said that information about the disaster was delayed, and that he had to turn back because of the strong currents when checking the water level.
These events in Spain are not only a tragedy for individual families, but also a serious test for the entire nation. The government and society must find ways to improve the system of warning and preparation for such disasters to avoid similar losses in the future.
