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Spain mobilizes 15,000 soldiers and police after devastating floods

Prime Minister Sanchez announces emergency relief plan and long-term recovery strategy

Nov 5, 2024 17:38 95

Spain mobilizes 15,000 soldiers and police after devastating floods  - 1

Nearly 15,000 soldiers and police have already been sent to the scene after the floods, that ravaged the southeastern part of Spain, the Prime Minister of the country, Pedro Sánchez, announced today, quoted by France Press and BTA.

"In the last 72 hours, since I last spoke, the number of soldiers, national police officers and guards sent by the Spanish government on the ground has increased from 7,300 to 14,898 people,'' Sanchez told a news conference.

These almost 15,000 people are supported by 287 foresters, about a hundred customs officials and 44 medical examiners. 600 specialized vehicles and machines for pumping, cleaning and supplies have been sent to the affected areas, the Spanish Prime Minister noted.

According to figures provided by national and local authorities, 219 people have died in the storms, which the executive says are the worst natural disaster in Spain's recent history. Of these, 214 died in the Valencia region, four in Castilla-La Mancha and one in Andalusia.

Sanchez explained that the increase in personnel and equipment has enabled 1,300 rescue operations to be carried out. "It also assisted local authorities and the local population in carrying out tasks such as removing cars from the rubble, inspecting garages and distributing 95,000 liters of water,” he added.

The Spanish prime minister has announced an initial €10.6 billion emergency plan to help people and businesses affected by the floods.

The package includes direct aid as well as tax breaks for businesses and individuals. 65,000 self-employed persons and about 30,000 enterprises will benefit from this assistance, Pedro Sánchez specified.

The head of the Spanish government also announced a credit line of 5 billion euros for small and medium-sized enterprises, the self-employed and families, based on a model very similar to the one implemented during the covid pandemic.

The Madrid cabinet has promised to cover 100% of the emergency costs incurred by local authorities to help their residents and clear the streets.

In addition to the emergency measures, Sanchez said the government is working on a long-term plan for the region, including rebuilding affected areas and adapting to the "climate emergency".

So far, the Spanish government has not provided an estimate of the costs needed to recover from the disaster. However, all economic experts claim that "astronomical sums" will be needed.

On Monday night, the president of the Chamber of Commerce of Valencia, Jose Vicente Morata, said that the consequences for businesses in the region would exceed 10 billion euros.

After a meeting with local operators, the Ministry of Transport estimated the necessary investments to restore the transport network at 2.6 billion euros, and only according to preliminary estimates.

According to Prime Minister Sánchez, 98% of the affected households now have electricity restored and 68% have a mobile connection again. Sanchez noted that 40 kilometers of roads and 74 kilometers of railways have been repaired so far.