Spanish State: More than 50 dead and dozens missing in Valencia
We hereby publish an unofficial translation of an article published by Servir al Pueblo.
The DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels, commonly misnamed “gota fria”) [Translator’s note: torrential rains] that is hitting the Peninsula has had a very serious impact in some parts of the country. The hot spots with the most human damage are, so far, the metropolitan area of Valencia and the town of Lietor (Albacete, Castilla La Mancha). We want to start by offering our deepest condolences to all those who have suffered significant human losses.
The authorities have declared at least 51 people dead in Valencia. Many more are missing, still not located. It is possible that these numbers will increase in the upcoming hours, when the authorities update the numbers. For now, the regional Valencian government has enabled the telephone number 900 365 112 for those who have lost contact with their relatives, while 112 continues to be used to communicate emergencies. In Albacete, there are at least 6 missing people. In total, roads have been cut in Valencia, Teruel, Cuenca, Albacete, Granada and Málaga.
Whenever this type of tragedy occurs, bourgeois politicians cry and claim that we are facing an unavoidable humanitarian tragedy. The reality is quite the opposite. You cannot control weather, but you can control society’s response to weather.
The Valencian government has been dismantling public emergency services for years: firefighters, rescue teams, ambulances… They have reduced staff, they have reduced infrastructure and materials, they have worsened training, etc. Scientists have been warning in recent days that rain detectors were not working correctly. Many of the buildings destroyed or affected were built in prohibited places, where many geographers and climatologists denounced that they were in a natural position that, in the event of a flood, would cause serious structural damage to the infrastructure. And yet, they were built to give the urban boom that the financial oligarchy wanted so much to speculate on housing. The authorities could have declared the temporary closure of companies – as happened with the Covid-19 pandemic, therefore they have no excuse – and prevented many workers from being trapped coming and going from the companies, or in the work places themselves. In short, the number of dead and missing could have been much lower.
We will continue to inform you if there are more updates. Reiterate our deep condolences to all the people who have suffered human losses. We show our reddest salute to the civil emergency and rescue teams who, despite poor equipment and few staff, are carrying out their tasks, and we also salute all the children of the people who are spontaneously organizing themselves to save what they can.
