The death toll from the floods in Spain is becoming increasingly frightening. The latest official update speaks of at least 158 confirmed deaths , but in the meantime the search for missing persons continues , which according to the government are still "dozens and dozens".

The catastrophe has now reached proportions similar to those of the most painful episodes in the recent history of this country , such as the terrorist attack in Atocha in 2004 (193 deaths). And in the sea of mud and desolation in which thousands of inhabitants of the flooded towns in Valencia and some other provinces find themselves, the great pain for those who are no longer here is compounded by the despair when trying to think about how to start again . "It will take years," many observe.

The end of the emergency, meanwhile, remains distant. "I tell the citizens of the area that the Dana will continue, it is not over, so we must be careful," warned Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during a visit to L'Eliana (Valencia), where the nerve center for managing the relief effort has been established. "I ask everyone to follow the instructions of the authorities. We are on the eve of a long weekend, but I invite you to stay home," he added while weather alerts for severe weather remained active in several parts of Spain, particularly in the southwest and northeast.

Indeed, scenes of flooded houses, blocked roads and closed schools have occurred in several areas, especially in the provinces of Castellón and Cádiz. But the epicentre of the drama currently remains the hinterland of Valencia, a city in shock and partially isolated, since trains will be out of action for at least 15 days and there is also considerable damage to the road network (while the airport remains operational).

It is in various areas of its outskirts where the bulk of the dead are concentrated : at least 45 (including six guests of a retirement home) in Paiporta, another 13 between La Torre and Castellar, while the figure, which is feared to be high, of the deceased in Sedaví is not yet certain. "They haven't come here yet to collect the bodies," said an inhabitant of the latter town on Thursday morning in Tve. Many of the bodies are being transported to the Palace of Justice in Valencia, where a temporary mortuary has been set up. Meanwhile, the search for the missing continues relentlessly, "house to house", with more than a thousand soldiers deployed.

"Our commitment, by land, sea and air, with all means and for as long as necessary, is aimed at finding the missing people," said Sánchez. While King Felipe VI, from Madrid, in addition to thanking the international solidarity and the numerous rescuers working in the flooded areas, paid homage to the "actions, in some cases certainly heroic" of the citizens who came forward to lend a hand. The Pope also wanted to express his "closeness to the people of Valencia" for this catastrophe.

Among the priorities for the next few hours is also that of ensuring basic necessities in the most affected areas, which in some cases have been left without electricity and drinking water : the Valencian governor Carlos Mazón has asked the army for support also for these functions. Unfortunately for those who already have to deal with tragic or at least very uncomfortable and complicated situations, not everyone has behaved in an exemplary manner. In the hours following the flood , the police arrested at least 39 people accused of looting : in particular, some commercial establishments specializing in the sale of computers, cell phones or branded perfumes were targeted.

While on the political front the controversy continues over doubts about the promptness of the regional authorities in managing the emergency , the consequences of the flood have already reached even more peripheral areas: among these, the sporting one, with the postponement to a date to be determined of the La Liga matches Villarreal-Rayo Vallecano and Valencia-Real Madrid scheduled for Saturday.

(Unioneonline/vl)

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