Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a major aid package to help affected Valencia residents and businesses recover and adapt to the changing climate.
Climate change kills and we are witnessing it. We will drive forward a transformation to adapt the territory to the climate emergency, which unfortunately particularly affects our dear Mediterranean area.
Last Tuesday, a massive storm caused rivers to burst their banks inland, sending waters rushing towards the sea. Emergency alerts came too late, with residents in most neighbourhoods caught by surprise.
At least 217 bodies have been recovered and authorities are continuing search and rescue operations. The number of missing has not yet been made public. Some 15,000 troops and national police officers are working on the ground to locate the missing, provide security, and restore basic services in the affected areas.
There are still missing people we need to find, homes and businesses that have been destroyed – buried under mud – and many people are still severely lacking.
Sánchez also announced direct cash transfers to affected homes and businesses, billions of euros in government loans and significant tax breaks. He said insurance payments would reach 3.5 billion euros ($3.8 billion) and that 70,000 claims had already been filed. The country has requested help from the EU’s Solidarity Fund.
Spain has always offered the European Union help when it was needed, but now, Spain is asking for help.
On Sunday, Sánchez, the president of Valencia and the king and queen of Spain were attacked by an angry crowd during a visit to the affected city. Protesters threw mud and insults and damaged an official vehicle.
