Six days after the start of the dana that has claimed the lives of at least 210 people in the province of Valencia, debris removal and search tasks for missing persons in the most affected municipalities continue, now focusing on emptying tunnels and underground car parks that were flooded by torrential rains. Efforts are concentrated at the Bonaire shopping center in Aldaia, where emergency personnel believe the situation is relatively optimistic, with no bodies found inside the 50 inspected cars so far. The presence of military forces, including 104 Marines from the Armada’s Galicia ship, has been reinforced in Paiporta, the epicenter of the disaster.
While significant progress is being made in the recovery efforts, congestion on several affected roads in Valencia continues to pose challenges, with more than 30 kilometers of traffic jams reported. The Civil Protection Coordination Center has extended restrictions on traffic in the metropolitan area to facilitate emergency work and prevent the collapse of key access roads. In the midst of these logistical challenges, political tensions have escalated, with Valencia’s regional president, Carlos Mazón, criticizing the government’s response to the dana.
Disputes between Mazón and the central government have intensified, with Mazón alleging that the hydrographic confederation had deactivated the flood alert three times on the day the dana began. The government has countered these claims by stating that the confederations do not issue alerts, and the responsibility lies with regional emergency services. The delay in issuing alerts to the public despite the Aemet’s red weather warning for Valencia has fueled criticism and accusations of inadequate coordination between authorities during the crisis.
The aftermath of the dana has exposed vulnerabilities in emergency response systems, prompting calls for accountability and improved disaster preparedness measures. The violent incidents during the visit of the royal family and government officials to Paiporta have highlighted the social unrest and frustration among affected residents. Calls for resignations and legal action against officials responsible for the crisis management are gaining momentum, with demands for stronger government intervention to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
As the Valencia region continues to recover from the dana’s devastation, Catalonia is bracing for the impact of heavy rains, with Aemet issuing a red alert for Barcelona’s coastal areas. Renfe has suspended all suburban rail services in Catalonia, and disruptions in air travel have led to flight cancellations and delays. The cascading effects of the dana are a stark reminder of the urgent need for coordinated response efforts and enhanced resilience measures to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events in vulnerable regions.
