The Spanish Government, which raised the number of fatalities due to the Dana (isolated depression at high levels) that the country has been suffering since yesterday, decided to decree three days of official mourning for the tragedy caused by this meteorological phenomenon and that the Council of Ministers next Tuesday approve the declaration of a catastrophic zone for the affected areas.
This was announced by the Minister of Territorial Policy, Angel Victor Torreswhile announcing that the president of the Government, Pedro Sanchezwill visit tomorrow Valencia (this).
A family walks through a mud-covered street in a flooded area in Picanya, near Valencia, eastern Spain, on October 30, 2024. (Photo by Jose Jordan / AFP)
/
READ ALSO: Spain: strong storm leaves several dead in Valencia and at least seven missing
Torres urged citizens who reside in the areas where the storm is advancing not to leave their homes and not use the roads, many of which are closed and flooded, according to a first assessment made by the crisis committee activated in Moncloa (Presidency) and which the minister gave an account of in a press conference this Wednesday.
The head of the Executive chaired the second meeting of the crisis committee to monitor the effects of the Dana and the head of Territorial Policy, who also stated that the Executive cannot provide data on missing persons, has at all times avoided responding to the criticism made by the opposition, although he has warned that there will be time for it.
Torres reported that Sanchez He spoke this afternoon with the king to decree mourning throughout the country tomorrow and on November 1 and 2, something he has also discussed with the Valencian regional presidents, Carlos Mazón, and Castilian Manchego, Emiliano García Page.
He assured that the Government is doing “all efforts” possible in collaboration with both autonomous governments and asked those affected who are already in a position to do so to contact the Government subdelegations to report the damages suffered, which he has announced are “very high”.
Meanwhile, next Tuesday, according to executive sources, the Council of Ministers will approve the declaration of an area seriously affected by a civil protection emergency – previously known as a catastrophic area – for the areas affected by the floods caused by the Dana.
Likewise, the executive has guaranteed “all the resources that are necessary from the Government of Spain and the European Union for the reconstruction” that must be undertaken.
LEARN MORE: Spain: an unknown number of bodies located in flooded areas
More than 1,100 UME troops
In the affected areas, he indicated, 1,116 police officers are currently operating. Military Emergency Unit (EMU), 344 land vehicles and helicopters and airplanes, 200 members of the Army, 700 of the Civil Guard, 100 of the National Police and local police officers, Civil Protection personnel and volunteers.
