The Spanish media, as well as the media in the entire EU, are following with great attention the removal of the tragic consequences of the floods in the area of Valencia, and the prevailing conclusion is that the authorities warned the population "of a terrible Dantean threat" too late, also because the construction of apartments and buildings was allowed in areas where it was known that they can be hit by floods.
This tragedy, unprecedented in the history of Spain, claimed at least 214 lives in the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, and hundreds more are still missing.
Material damage will undoubtedly exceed billions of euros, Spanish newspapers estimate.
In addition to the accusations that despite the timely warning of the national meteorological service, especially the provincial and central authorities reacted unacceptably badly, it is also pointed out that the tsunami-like torrent killed dozens of people and destroyed entire settlements because, instead of embankments, dams and systems drainage of floods, permits for the construction of buildings were given even where there had already been large floods before.
The National Meteorological Service warned of the danger of heavy rains and cyclones on the east coast of Spain, especially in the Almeria area.
The central government in Madrid only sent 10,000 soldiers and police officers on Saturday to help search for victims and clear the hard-hit neighborhoods.
So far, a total of 30 volunteers have worked there, who responded to the call for help in an incredibly large number, and many came to the scene of the biblical flood on foot along the destroyed roads.
Many affected residents are still without electricity, drinking water and food, especially in the completely devastated neighborhood of Paiporta, the epicenter of this deadliest natural disaster in Spain's recent history.
The media point to the fact that an unprecedented amount of water and hurricane-force winds fell on large parts of coastal settlements and small towns, but they also state that Paiport, where not a drop of rain fell due to the lack of dams and drainage systems, was hit by the tsunami like a bolt from the blue. sky.
The Spanish public, which is closely followed by the media in the entire European Union, where unprecedented catastrophic floods have also recently occurred in some countries, is now pointing the finger at the carelessness of the authorities who underestimated the danger of climate disasters, despite the warning of experts that the warming of the planet and especially the Mediterranean the sea greatly changes the climate and causes huge eddies of water and winds.
And disastrous urban failings and pressures from construction lobbies, as it is known, have led the municipal authorities to loosen regulations and allow more and more to be built.
"Human lives have been lost, great damage to settlements and economic losses have mostly occurred due to urbanization, the construction of apartments on the banks of rivers," said José María Bodoke, an expert in hydrological regulation and risk assessment at the University of Castilla la Mancha.
"It is especially dangerous to build on the edges of rivers or coastal valleys that serve to drain water in times of high water levels," explains this expert.
Bordoke warns that "municipal authorities, who turn a blind eye to such actions, are not aware of this at all, and those who built or bought apartments or buildings also see nothing wrong with it".
Citizens and the public in Spain are very shaken and excited and demand that responsibility be established for the failures of both the central and the authorities of the province of Valencia, so the newspaper "Pais" today demands the resignation of the governor of Valencia, Carlos Moson, and asks the question "how many human lives could have been saved if warning sign only ten hours before the impact of water and wind".
"Pais" also wades into internal political waters and says that "the finger must also be pointed at the fact that the current provincial government has an unprecedented shortage of experienced and trained personnel."
"Only the people save people, as we can see," adds the Madrid daily, pointing to the large number of volunteers who are helping to eliminate the consequences of the disaster.
"But it must be remembered that the people are also the infrastructure and public services that we finance through taxes...the people are also the government capable of leading and managing us," concludes "Pais".
Bonus video:
