Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has ordered 5,000 more troops and 5,000 police officers and civil guards to the Valencia region as residents raise serious concerns over lack of adequate response from local authorities to catastrophic flooding.
Heavy rains that started on Monday triggered severe floods in the region, destroying infrastructure and cutting off communities. Scores of people had no access to electricity for several days. By Saturday, the death toll had already increased to 211.
Most fatalities have been reported in and around Valencia. PM Sanchez called the deployment of emergency services and the army Spain’s largest in peacetime, in response to one of the most serious floods across Europe in the 21st century.
Spain floods: Government criticised for lack of quick response
The Spanish prime minister highlighted in a statement that the response from local authorities had not been adequate, admitting “severe problems and shortages”. He said there are still several people desperately searching for their relatives.
There are some places that are still suffering from lack of basic resources. It has been reported that authorities have restored electricity to more than 90% of homes. The government has also authorised 100 interim civil servants to help distribute financial aid among those in need.
Local authorities have been subjected to intense criticism over the speed of the response and the lack of alerts in advance to the deadly flooding. The Federal government in Madrid is also being criticised for not mobilising the army sooner.
