‘Heroes of the Mud’: Moroccan Contingent Concludes Valencia Flood Relief Mission

Doha – After two months of intensive work, the Moroccan contingent deployed to Spain’s Valencia province is preparing to return home following their crucial role in post-flood cleanup operations.

The team, which arrived in mid-November, has been instrumental in helping communities recover from the devastating DANA storm that struck on October 29.

According to Ceuta Actualidad, which called them the “Heroes of the Mud,” the operation involved approximately 100 Moroccan workers from cities including Tangier, Kenitra, Casablanca, Tetouan, and Meknes.

The news outlet also released a dedicated video report documenting the workers’ efforts.

The contingent, equipped with 30 specialized drainage trucks, focused their efforts on clearing blocked sewage systems in the most affected areas, known as “ground zero.”

Working around the clock, they cleaned hundreds of flooded garages across more than 15 municipalities, including Paiporta, Picanya, Catarroja, Benetússer, Sedaví, Algemesí, Cheste, Chiva, and l’Alcúdia.

The mission arrived in two waves, with the initial group comprising 70 operators and 24 tanker trucks arriving via ferry from Tangier to Motril.

A second convoy soon followed with 13 additional trucks and 35 workers, marking Spain’s largest international aid operation following the floods.

Colonel Jamaleddin Elmegnouni led the Moroccan team, while the Spanish coordination team included Gonzalo Sanz, Abdelhay Mohamed, Abselam Abdel Lah, and Esteban Rodríguez.

“The Moroccan operators have removed enough mud to fill more than 50 Olympic swimming pools,” reported Gonzalo Sanz, coordinator of the Civil Protection Mixed Commission group.

The team maintained a rigorous schedule, beginning their days at 7:30 a.m. at the Alfafar command post, where tasks were digitally assigned by Colonel Elmegnouni.

Other Spanish media has also featured the operation’s scope, with reports indicating that the team of around 120 personnel, including operators, translators, and coordinators, has cleared between 150 and 200 garages.

The Moroccan teams worked relentlessly. Mohammed Alouch, an operator from Rabat, emphasized their commitment: “We came to work and help Spain, not to rest.”

The mission, initially planned for one month, was extended until January 10 by direct order of King Mohammed VI.

This extension came as part of the bilateral Civil Protection Agreement signed in Rabat in 1987, which established a framework for technical cooperation and mutual assistance between both countries.

The devastating DANA storm left significant damage in its wake, with 224 casualties in Valencia, 48,003 insured homes damaged out of 130,000 affected properties, and approximately 140,000 vehicles impacted.

While the Moroccan contingent’s mission concludes, Valencia continues to face challenges with hundreds of flooded garages and thousands of vehicles still requiring removal.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez publicly thanked Morocco for its assistance, stating on social media: “In these challenging weeks for Spain due to the storm, international and European solidarity has been immense. All of Spain thanks you.”