Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced the deployment of an additional 5,000 soldiers and 5,000 police officers to the Valencia region following devastating floods that have resulted in at least 211 fatalities, with 202 deaths reported in Valencia, Al Jazeera reports.
Sanchez described the floods as the second-deadliest in Europe this century and announced that this is Spain’s largest peacetime mobilization of army and security personnel. Rescue operations continue, with search teams looking for victims in submerged vehicles and buildings, with many people still unaccounted for. Thousands of volunteers are assisting with cleanup efforts in affected areas.
The government faced some criticism, particularly regarding the effectiveness of flood warning systems and the perceived slow action from authorities, with reports of residents feeling abandoned. Sanchez acknowledged the shortcomings in the response and highlighted the challenges faced in providing aid to cut-off communities.
