It has been a week since the floods in eastern Spain that have killed more than 200 people. Many areas in the disaster-stricken region remain flooded, and search efforts for missing persons are proving challenging.
In eastern Spain, particularly in Valencia, record-breaking rainfall on October 29 and 30 led to severe flooding. According to local media, the death toll has reached 217, with many people still unaccounted for, suggesting the number of casualties could increase further.
In the affected areas, some locations, such as underground parking lots, remain heavily flooded. Firefighters and other emergency responders are using pumps to drain water, and are working under tough conditions to inspect each crushed or damaged vehicle one by one.
On November 4, a Spanish military vessel carrying trucks loaded with water and food supplies arrived at the port of Valencia.
The disaster has severely disrupted transportation networks, including roads and railways, cutting off some areas from aid. Residents have expressed frustration and anger toward the Spanish government and Valencia’s regional authorities for their response.
On November 9, protests took place across Spain, with demonstrators calling for the resignation of the president of the Valencian Community, blaming delayed responses for the worsening of flood damage. Around 130,000 people joined the demonstration in Valencia, with some holding placards demanding the resignation of the president, and occasional clashes with the police briefly causing chaos.
There has been criticism that by the time authorities issued flood warnings, the flooding had already spread, and that the response to aid those in the affected areas has been insufficient.
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