StormProtests one month after the flood disaster in Spain
SDA
29.11.2024 - 23:59
Residents of Paiporta commemorated the victims one month after the flood disaster in Spain.
Keystone
One month after the flood disaster in south-eastern Spain, which caused 230 deaths and billions of euros in damage, people in the affected areas have commemorated the victims. "Paiporta, united, will never be defeated", chanted hundreds of residents of the town of Paiporta.
Keystone-SDA
29.11.2024, 23:59
SDA
At the demonstration on Friday evening, a minute's silence was observed at 8.11 p.m. sharp - at this point a month ago, the authorities in the Valencia region had finally informed the population of the impending danger via cell phone messages.
The news came twelve hours after a storm warning from the national weather authority - and far too late for many people. 222 people died in the Valencia region alone.
"We remember the victims, both those who left and those who stayed", said 43-year-old teacher Bea García on Friday evening. "People still feel lonely, the anger remains and there is tiredness and frustration. We are all exhausted," she emphasized.
Tiredness and frustration
Fatigue and frustration have spread among many of those affected. The clean-up work is continuing and people are working tirelessly for a return to normality. Local organizations, trade unions and associations had therefore called for demonstrations in several affected communities on Friday evening.
In Catarroja, south of Valencia, the traces of the flood disaster are still visible: Dozens of wrecked cars pile up at the entrance to the town. "We are tired, we thank the volunteers, but we are very tired because nothing is progressing," says 35-year-old Amparo Peris. "Sometimes we have electricity, sometimes not. Some days we have no electricity at mealtime and we ask ourselves: What are we going to eat now?" he continues. "We hope this will be over soon."
Immediately after the disaster, many of those affected accused the authorities and the government in Madrid of having reacted too late. In Spain, the regions are actually responsible for civil protection. The regional president of the Valencia region, Carlos Mazón, apologized for "mistakes" after the flood. However, the politician from the conservative People's Party also said that he had been informed insufficiently and too late by the national authorities and made serious accusations against the left-wing government in Madrid.