Madrid/Valencia, Nov 5 (EFE).- The final throes of a deadly storm in Spain have left a chaotic aftermath, particularly in Valencia, where military and emergency teams work tirelessly to clear debris, restore services, and search for victims.
At least 215 people have died, and officials are calling for calm as communities struggle to piece together their lives shattered by an unprecedented devastation.
In the worst-hit Valencia, nearly 17,000 personnel, including military units, civil guards, and national police, are on the ground, draining floodwaters, clearing mud, and searching for possible victims.
Military Deployment
The chief of the Military Emergency Unit (UME), General Javier Marcos, has called for calm, citing “severe infrastructure damage” that complicates the work of 7,800 military personnel working in double shifts.
“We have been and remain present in every affected municipality,” General Marcos told reporters, adding that the armed forces are committed to ensuring no family is left unattended.
Widespread Damage: Infrastructure, Agriculture, and Livestock
The storm, characterized by an isolated high-altitude depression (dana), has impacted over 2,600 buildings and submerged approximately 534 square km across six regions, with flooding depths reaching up to 4.41 meters in some areas, according to microsatellite operator ICEYE.
In the agricultural sector, an estimated 20,000 hectares of crops, including citrus, persimmons, grapes, and vegetables, have been damaged, with additional losses in almond and olive groves.
Valencia authorities have removed nearly 3,000 dead animals from affected livestock farms to mitigate health risks.
Health and disaster response organizations have reassured the public that natural disasters do not typically spread infectious diseases, nor do corpses pose epidemic risks in Spain. However, stagnant floodwaters may still harbor other health hazards.
Disaster Declaration and Labor Protections
To support recovery, the Spanish Council of Ministers is expected to approve a disaster zone declaration on Tuesday for the worst-affected areas, facilitating economic assistance for victims.
Second Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz announced a “labor shield,” retroactive to October 29, the day the storm devastated Valencia.
This measure includes Temporary Employment Regulation Files (ERTE) with immediate effect, maintaining employment and restoring the Me Cuida Plan, a COVID-era initiative to protect workers’ rights in affected areas.
Fatalities and Identification Efforts in Valencia
Valencia’s fatality count has risen to 211, according to the emergency services. Teh identification of the deceased is ongoing, with 111 victims identified to date by forensic specialists and law enforcement.
The Institute of Legal Medicine in Valencia has performed 190 autopsies, before transferring the bodies to a temporary morgue set up at Feria Valencia. EFE
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