“Valencia Floods” – Largest Rescue Operation as Death Toll Reaches 211
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated on Saturday that the most severe floods experienced by the country in recent history have claimed the lives of at least 211 people, with dozens still missing, following four days of heavy rainfall in the Valencia region in eastern Spain.
In a televised statement broadcast and reported by Reuters, Sánchez announced that the government will deploy an additional 5,000 military personnel to assist in the search and cleanup efforts being conducted by the 2,500 soldiers already on the ground.
He added, “This is the largest operation undertaken by the armed forces in peacetime… The government will mobilize all necessary resources for as long as required.”
This tragedy marks the worst flood-related disaster in Europe since 1967, when at least 500 people lost their lives in Portugal.
Hopes of finding survivors increased when rescuers discovered a woman alive after being trapped for three days in a parking garage in Montcada, near Valencia. The announcement by civil defense chief Martín Pérez was met with loud applause from local residents.
At the same time, volunteers gathered at the Arts and Sciences Center in Valencia to participate in the first coordinated cleanup operation organized by regional authorities, turning the venue into the control center for the mission.
A new weather warning was issued for the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, and Valencia, as rains are expected to continue over the weekend.
Scientists indicate that extreme weather events are increasing in Europe and other regions due to climate change, with meteorologists believing that the warming of the Mediterranean Sea plays a key role in intensifying rainfall, as it increases water evaporation.
