A member of Spain's Military Emergency Unit embraces with a local woman, in the aftermath of floods caused by heavy rains, in Sedavi, near Valencia, Spain, November 3, 2024.
PAIPORTA, Spain —
Spain is deploying 7,500 troops to its eastern region hit by devastating floods, the government said on Monday in the face of rising discontent over the response to the catastrophe that has killed at least 217 people.
The army sent about 5,000 soldiers over the weekend to help distribute food and water, clean up streets and protect shops and properties from looters. A further 2,500 would join them, Defense Minister Margarita Robles told state-owned radio RNE.
A warship carrying 104 marine infantry soldiers as well as trucks with food and water was approaching Valencia port even as a strong hailstorm pummeled Barcelona some 300 km to the north.
Death toll tops 200 in Spain's deadliest modern-day natural disaster
The code has been copied to your clipboard.
px
px
-
Share on Twitter
The URL has been copied to your clipboard
No media source currently available
0:00
0:02:40
Download
-
240p | 7.5MB
-
360p | 12.1MB
-
480p | 23.4MB
-
720p | 41.9MB
-
1080p | 70.3MB
Rescue teams on Monday were searching for bodies in underground garages including a 5,000-car park at Bonaire shopping mall near Valencia airport as well as river mouths where currents may have deposited bodies.
Fatalities from Spain\’s worst flash floods in modern history edged higher to 217 on Sunday – almost all of them in the Valencia region and more than 60 in the suburb of Paiporta.
Local residents\’ anger was focused on late alerts from authorities about the dangers of flooding and a perceived delayed response by emergency services.
On Sunday, some residents in Paiporta slung mud at Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and King Felipe and his wife Queen Letizia, chanting: "murderers, murderers!"
Transport Minister Oscar Puente said on Sunday the death toll had stabilized because all victims on the surface had been identified.
The torrential rains on Tuesday and Wednesday caused rivers to swell, engulfing streets and the ground floors of buildings, and sweeping away cars and pieces of masonry in tides of mud.
It was the worst flood-related disaster in Europe in five decades
Even though rainfalls have continued during the rest of the week, there has been no more major flooding in the area. The weather agency issued a warning on Monday morning for Barcelona as hailstorm and heavy rains hit Spain\’s second largest city.
Some of Sunday\’s protesters wore clothing with the symbols of far-right organizations that often stage protests against the leftist government. Robles said extremist groups were taking advantage of the situation for political gains.
-
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency founded in 1851 and owned by the Thomson Reuters Corporation based in Toronto, Canada. One of the world's largest wire services, it provides financial news as well as international coverage in over 16 languages to more than 1000 newspapers and 750 broadcasters around the globe.
Subscribe
By：VOA
Related posts:
Spain to send 10,000 more troops, police to flood-hit region
Spain searches for bodies after flood of the century kills at least 95
A crowd of Spain's flood survivors toss mud and shout insults at King Felipe VI
Spanish floods' death toll climbs to 205; shock turns to anger, frustration
Nobel Prizes and COVID-19: Slow, Basic Science May Pay Off
North Korea punishes flood victims for failing to rescue leaders’ portraits
Heavy rains cause flash floods in Spain's south, east
5 migrants die trying to reach Spain's Canary Islands
Spain, Portugal dump Morocco, sign joint bid agreement to 2030 FIFA World Cup
Spain concerned about increasing enlistment of Sahrawis from Tindouf in ISIS ranks
Pentagon, South Korea urge North Korea to withdraw troops from Russia
EU'S Borrell visits South Korea amid alarm over North Korean troops in Russia
-