10/30/2024October 30, 2024Portugal PM expresses solidarity offers to help out
The prime minister of Spain’s Iberian neighbor Portugal, Luis Montenegro, expressed his country’s “greatest regret” and “solidarity with all the Spanish people.”
In a message on X, he offered “all necessary help.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4mOaj
10/30/2024October 30, 2024EU says ‘ready to help’ Spain
European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen says Brussels stands “ready to help” Spain in its moment of crisis.
“What we are seeing is devastating,” von der Leyen told a news conference. “We have activated our Copernicus satellite system to help coordinate the rescue teams, and we have already offered to activate our civil protection mechanism.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4mOai
10/30/2024October 30, 2024Railways hit by heavy rain
A landslide triggered by the heavy rainfall caused a high-speed train with nearly 300 people on board to derail near Malaga on its way to Madrid.
Although were 291 passengers on board, rail officials said none were hurt.
Spain’s national rail operator, RENFE, also said it had suspended all rail services in the Valencia region “until the situation returns to normal for the safety of passengers.”
Among the routes affected were the high-speed train service between Valencia city and Madrid, plus several commuter lines.
https://p.dw.com/p/4mOWl
10/30/2024October 30, 2024Rescue operations under way
Speaking from Spain, DW reporter Nicole Ris said the devastation wreaked by the floods had exacerbated the challenge facing rescuers.
“Communications have broken down, streets, and motorways have been washed away,” said Ris. “Bridges are gone because of these masses of water.”
“They’re trying to rescue people with helicopters and you can imagine that, while this is effective, it’s slower than being able to access via streets through the towns with vehicles. This really is a problem for them.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4mOX7
10/30/2024October 30, 2024Death toll of 52 expected to rise
At least 52 people have been killed as a result of Spain‘s flash flooding, with all but one of the fatalities reported so far in the southeastern region of Valencia.
The number is expected to rise after heavy rain roads and towns under water.
The “provisional number of dead is at 51 people”, Valencia’s regional emergency services wrote on X, adding that bodies were still being recovered and identified.
The rains also claimed a life in the Spanish community of Castilla-La Mancha, where an 88-year-old woman has died in Mira in Cuenca province.
rc/lo (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)
https://p.dw.com/p/4mOUk