Huge Volunteer Response in Flood-hit Valencia

Intense rainfall in central-eastern Spain produced one of the most deadly floods in Europe. 

On October 29, 2024, Spain’s meteorological agency (AEMET) reported that over 300 millimeters of rain fell in the province of Valencia. The Valencian government confirmed that211 fatalities are expected to rise. 

Valencian citizens are highly angered by the government's incompetence. A volunteer in Valencia said, “This was an avoidable tragedy. All the regional government needed to do was give us the flood warnings in advance.” 

The flood caused massive flooding, destroying bridges and leaving people without water, food, and electricity. 

Thousands of volunteers and emergency services are aiding the restoration process by clearing debris and searching for the missing ones in the mud. 

Amparo Esteve, a citizen who escaped from the flood confessed how she felt like “no one is helping [him].”

She expressed her feelings as she witnessed many people in need of help.

Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that increased security forces would be sent to help find the missing ones and recover from the flooding scene.

The Prime Minister highlighted that he would deploy 5,000 more troops to join the 2,500 already deployed to clean up and help with the searches. He called this the Spanish armed forces' biggest operation after the two world wars. 

Due to the lack of official forces to help the people in danger, over 15,000 civilians gathered to help search and clean up. 

One of the volunteers, Pedro Francisco, said, “We have to do whatever we can.” The Valencian people's sense of unity is shown in their response to the government’s belated response. 

Civilians are determined to help Valencia and surrounding areas to recover from this disaster. Without volunteers who work from sunrise until sunset, survivors would not have any food, water, or clothes. Survivors thanked volunteers for providing them with basic necessities and for restoring their faith in humanity. 

One of the survivors Toni Zamorano said, “I feel that humanity is still capable of forgetting its differences. Here, race or economic level don’t matter.”

The devastation brought fears and awareness of the outcome of climate change.