The Spanish government is dispatching 500 more troops to the flood-stricken Valencia region, where criticism is mounting over the authorities’ response to catastrophic flooding that has left over 200 people dead. Heavy rains, which began on Monday, caused severe flooding that devastated towns, wiped out bridges, and left entire communities isolated without water, food, or power.
The floods have triggered widespread anger among residents, who say they were given inadequate warnings and little immediate assistance. Paco Polit, a local journalist, said the additional troops will bring essential machinery, including bulldozers and trucks, to support the overwhelmed rescue teams and expedite the clean-up operations.
Despite 1,700 soldiers already on-site for search and rescue missions, the deployment is seen as insufficient by locals, with resources stretched and hope dwindling of finding more survivors trapped in submerged underground tunnels and car parks.
Local shop owner Amparo Andres recounted her harrowing experience as floodwaters rose inside her building, reaching her neck. “At least I’m alive, but I’ve lost everything: my business, my home,” she told the BBC. “And the government isn’t doing anything. Only young people are helping us.”
Frustration is particularly high in Paiporta, where over 60 deaths have been recorded. Paco Clemente, a pharmacist helping to clear mud, told AFP that firefighting resources and essential equipment were still insufficient. Compounding the tension, looting has been reported, with several arrests made as desperate residents scavenged in abandoned stores.
The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has pledged comprehensive support, but the federal government is also facing criticism for not mobilising the military sooner and for declining France’s offer of 200 firefighters to aid rescue efforts.
Authorities issued an emergency alert to residents’ phones after 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, but by then, many communities were already engulfed. Juan González of Aldaia, a flood-prone area, expressed frustration, saying, “It’s outrageous that our local government didn’t act, knowing this was coming.”
Climate conditions have worsened the impact, with Spain’s meteorological agency, Aemet, reporting that Valencia’s Chiva region received a year’s worth of rain in just eight hours on Tuesday. The drought-stricken ground, unable to absorb the rainfall effectively, contributed to the scale of the disaster. Scientists with the World Weather Attribution (WWA) project suggest that global warming intensified the rainfall by 12% and doubled the likelihood of such an event.
As weather warnings continue in north-eastern and southern Spain, authorities have restricted weekend traffic around Valencia to clear roads for emergency services and ensure the flow of essential supplies.
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