Sánchez guaranteed that the government “is ready” to send the authorities the resources they request and announced that Spain has already begun “the procedures to request help from the European solidarity fund”. Faced with the growing desperation of the population, who continue to look for their loved ones or cry out for water or food, Sánchez admitted to being “aware that the response that is being given is not enough.”
He also reported the recovery of 94% of the electricity supply, the rescue of 5,000 people, aid to more than 30,000 and the removal of more than 2,000 vehicles.
10,000 new forces will be sent after DANA
The Spanish government announced this Saturday that will send 10,000 additional soldiers and police to search for the missing. They will also assist in areas devastated by floods.
““Today, 4,000 additional troops from military units will arrive in the province of Valencia.” stated President Sánchez. He also explained that the remaining 1,000 military personnel would arrive first thing tomorrow morning, joining the 2,500 soldiers already in the area.
The 5,000 police and civil guards will double the number of agents present, to guarantee security and prevent lootingwhich have resulted in 82 arrests, Sánchez said in a message from the Moncloa Palace, after chairing a meeting of the crisis committee.
The assistance of the Spanish government after the passage of DANA
“The Government of Spain is assisting the regional authorities in everything they have asked for,” said the president in relation to the local authorities that are overwhelmed by the catastrophe. He also emphasized that “the priority is to save lives“and that forces were deployed that had already carried out 4,800 rescues and helped more than 30,000 people in flooded homes, roads and industrial estates.
“Unfortunately, the magnitude of the catastrophe makes them insufficient,” he said about the use of these forces to confront the consequences of the climate event. For this reason, I am glad that President Mazón has decided to increase his request for military personnel from 500 to 5,000. The State will immediately proceed with that shipment. In addition, another 5,000 national police and additional civil guards will be deployed today, for a total of 10,000 troops.
Valencian residents denounce that “the government is not doing anything”
After the destructive passage of the DANA, which has already left more than 200 dead, and the looting of the last few hours, there was criticism of the local authorities. Various neighbors pointed out that the official response has been slow to arrive and also criticize the lack of prior warnings about the serious flooding.
In cities like Paiporta, Residents have expressed frustration at the slowness with which help is arriving. They also denounce that in areas prone to rain “it was known” that this disaster would occur.
Source: Ambito
