Rabat – In response to one of the deadliest floods in European history, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has mobilized an additional 10,000 troops, police, and civil guards to the Valencia region.
The ongoing disaster has claimed 211 lives, with rescue efforts hampered by continued severe weather and destroyed infrastructure. The death toll is expected to climb as rescue teams access previously unreachable areas.
Heavy rains that began on Monday have triggered widespread flooding, wiping out bridges and towns, and leaving thousands without essential services.
Sanchez described the military and emergency response as the largest ever deployed in Spain during peacetime, noting that conditions remained critical.
“We know that the response is not enough,” he acknowledged, citing shortages in basic supplies and the continuing search for missing persons. “Homes are destroyed and buried by mud; I know we have to do better.”
Authorities are focused on draining submerged areas, including underground tunnels and garages, where people were potentially trapped as water surged in.
Amid mounting criticism, Sanchez pledged to address the delays in emergency aid. Many residents accuse both local and national authorities of failing to provide sufficient warning or prepare for the disaster’s severity.
In the town of Paiporta, one of the worst-hit areas, residents expressed frustration as recovery tools and personnel arrived slowly.
Sanchez also announced plans to double the number of law enforcement personnel in response to reports of looting, with more than 80 people arrested so far.
Climate scientists believe that recent droughts may have exacerbated the flooding, as dry soil absorbed less water, worsening runoff. World Weather Attribution, an international research organization, attributed a 12% increase in rainfall to climate change, stating that such extreme weather events have doubled in likelihood.
