Spain’s Prime Minister Stresses Importance of Flood Disaster Discussion After Recovery Efforts
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that the political reckoning regarding Spain’s deadliest floods in decades, which has sparked widespread anger towards the governing class, will have to wait until the nation has recovered from the disaster.
In light of the 29 October catastrophe that resulted in 222 fatalities, his government also unveiled a new aid package totaling nearly €3.8 billion as Spain assesses the damage.
The extraordinary Mediterranean storm that affected the European country wreaked particular havoc in the eastern Valencia region, which experienced the highest number of fatalities and destruction.
Public frustration directed at the authorities for their perceived mishandling of the situation before and after the floods led to mass protests on Saturday, with the largest in Valencia city attracting 130,000 participants.
Hundreds of thousands protested against the government’s response to the flooding.
“The political discussion regarding necessary improvements in response to this climate emergency will come later,” Mr. Sanchez commented at a press conference.
Mr. Mazon, who is set to address the regional parliament on Thursday regarding his administration’s decisions, acknowledged that “mistakes may have occurred” and emphasized that “everyone” must analyze them.
Critics have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the Valencia region’s alert system, which, in some cases, only notified residents after the water had already begun flooding their towns.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez introduced a second aid package amounting to €3.76 billion.
Volunteers have provided essential food, water, medical supplies, and cleaning tools to the hardest-hit towns, while authorities took several days to reach these areas.
This sense of abandonment has given rise to the rallying cry “only the people save the people,” but Mr. Sanchez reassured that “we are all the state.”
Fresh funding
The violent influx of muddy waters devastated roads and railways, overturned vehicles, destroyed shops, and submerged agricultural lands, with the total damage bill projected to reach tens of billions of euros.
In addition to the €10.6 billion announced last week, Mr. Sanchez introduced a second aid package worth €3.76 billion.
Compensation processes will be streamlined and expanded to cover more residents and properties, while farmers will receive additional support totaling €200 million. Borrowers will also benefit from more lenient mortgage repayment terms until 2026.
Furthermore, Mr. Sanchez indicated that another €500 million would be allocated for clearing debris and repairing flooded sewer systems in the most severely affected towns.
Requests for furloughs affecting 9,000 individuals have been submitted, and initial insurance claims are being processed following last week’s measures. The government is also ensuring income security for approximately 400,000 workers.
Cars damaged in the floods being sorted in a junkyard.
Mr. Sanchez likened the current measures to the government’s economic interventions during the Covid-19 crisis and confirmed that the administration “will be there with all the necessary resources for as long as needed.”
Thousands of soldiers, police officers, civil guards, and emergency personnel are actively working to repair infrastructure, distribute relief supplies, and search for numerous missing individuals.
Mr. Sanchez reported that nearly all affected residences have been reconnected to both the power and telephone networks; however, road and railway repairs will require significantly more time.
The national railway company, Renfe, announced that the high-speed line connecting Madrid and Valencia would be back in operation on Thursday.
While Mediterranean storms are typical for this time of year, scientists indicate that climate change resulting from human actions is amplifying the intensity, duration, and frequency of extreme weather events.
