In a televised statement, Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez called for unity, solidarity and vigilance as floods rock his country.
He urged the people not to let their guard down because the weather front is still “wreaking havoc and we can’t say that this devastating episode is over.”
“There are still weather warnings in Andalucía, Valencia, Aragón, Castilla y León, in Cataluña, in Extremadura, in Navarra, in La Rioja and in Ceuta.
“That’s why I’m asking people in those areas to take special care: to stay off the roads; to avoid travelling close to ravines, riverbanks and riverbeds, and to heed the advice of the emergency services and of the police. No one should be putting their life at risk.”
Pedro Sanchez
The Prime Minister said that Spain had had more than its fair share of natural and health emergencies in recent years – mentioning the COVID pandemic, Storm Filomena in January 2021 and the volcanic eruptions in the Canary Islands that same year but said such adversity brought out the best in the country.
He asserted the government’s support to victims.
“We’re going to lend a hand and help those who can’t get into their homes or who are looking for relatives or friends or loved ones.
“But most of all, right now, we’re going to stand with those who are suffering the loss of their loved ones.”
Pedro Sanchez
Also, Spain’s King Felipe spoke to reporters in the Canary Islands about “enormous destruction” caused by the floods. “There are still difficulties when it comes to accessing some areas, so we do not have complete information on the extent and possible victims,” he said.
“I am comforted by the knowledge that all possible means available are at the disposal of the authorities and emergency services. They are all working and the important thing is to let them work in a coordinated manner.”
King Felipe
EU Voices Support For Spain
European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen said that the European Union was “ready to help” with rescue efforts.
She told a news conference, “What we are seeing is devastating.”
“We have activated our Copernicus satellite system to help coordinate the rescue teams, and we have already offered to activate our civil protection mechanism.”
Ursula von der Leyen
The German government also offered its help to Madrid.
A spokesperson said, “We are in direct contact with the Spanish government as to whether there should be support from Germany for this terrible disaster.”
The floods in Spain come some three years after the 2021 floods that killed more than 220 people in Europe, leaving a trail of destruction in Germany and Belgium, as well as damage in the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland.
Meanwhile, Liz Stephens, a climate risk scientist at the University of Reading, said, “the tragic consequences of this event show that we have a long way to go to prepare.”
She added that a red weather warning was issued for the region with enough time for people to move out of harm’s way but a red warning alone doesn’t communicate what the impact will be or what people should do. “People shouldn’t be dying from these kinds of forecasted weather events in countries where they have the resources to do better,” Stephens added.
Climate scientists warned that torrential rains are set to get stronger as the planet heats up.
Ernesto Rodríguez Camino, senior state meteorologist and member of Spanish Meteorological Association, said, “These types of intense and exceptional, rare rainfall events are going to become more frequent and more intense and, therefore, destructive.”
He stated that scientists would be able to quantify the role of climate change after the event but could not do so on the fly.
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