MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s King Felipe will attend a state funeral in the eastern region of Valencia as part of a number of events on Wednesday to mark one year since deadly floods killed 237 people.
Authorities were still finding victims buried in the mud as recently as last week, as the country comes to terms with the most catastrophic flooding in Europe in more than five decades.
Flash floods caused by torrential rains swept away bridges, cars and people and swamped homes and underground car parks on October 29, 2024. Some 229 people died in the Valencia region and a further eight in other parts of Spain.
Local residents plan to lay out 229 emergency foil blankets representing the victims in a Valencia square.
Two silent, torch-carrying marches will join together in Benetusser, one of the suburbs of Valencia city that was most affected by the floods.
Anger over the handling of the catastrophe continues to rage a year later, with tens of thousands of people calling for conservative regional leader Carlos Mazon to resign at a demonstration in Valencia on Saturday.
Protesters accused the regional government of failing to warn citizens early enough during the emergency, sending a text message alert when many buildings were already under water.
A court is investigating Mazon’s handling of the emergency and his whereabouts on the day, after a local journalist said she had a nearly four-hour lunch with him when he was meant to be at an emergency services meeting. Mazon has refused to provide details of the lunch or show the restaurant bill but says he was kept informed at all times over the phone.
The government on Tuesday approved 5 billion euros ($5.8 billion) of loan guarantees to help businesses and homes affected by the floods. The government has so far handed out more than 8 billion euros to clear up devastated areas.
The heavy rains and subsequent flash floods were caused by a high-altitude isolated depression – referred to locally as a DANA – a highly destructive weather system created when cold and warm air meet to produce powerful rain clouds.
It typically happens after a hot summer, and scientists believe the phenomenon is occurring more frequently due to climate change.
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(Reporting by Charlie Devereux, David Latona and Ana Cantero; Writing by Charlie Devereux; Editing by Sonali Paul)
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