Spain on Tuesday has announced aid packages worth 10.6 billion euros ($11.5 billion) to rebuild regions destroyed by its worst floods that has killed about 218 people.
The exceptional Mediterranean storm that lashed eastern Spain a week ago, triggered surging torrents of muddy water that have left a trail of destruction and an unknown number of missing persons.
The Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a series of measures including aid to small and medium-sized businesses, self-employed workers and households who have suffered deaths, incapacity, damage to homes and belongings.
Tax relief, reduction and a three-month postponement to repaying mortgages and loans were also among the announcements aimed at protecting the economy and citizen’s livelihood.
Emergency service personnel are working around the clock to repair damaged infrastructure, distribute aid and search for bodies in Spain.
Sanchez said almost 15,000 troops, police officers and civil guards were in the eastern Valencia region which had suffered most of the deaths and destruction, up from 7,300 on Saturday.
Firefighters head-stuck, combed through piles of damaged vehicles and pumped out water from garages and car parks where more victims may be discovered.
Maribel Albalat, mayor of the ground-zero town of Paiporta, said they were doing “better, but not well” , with many streets still inaccessible and residents struggling to get a phone signal.
Five working groups between the left-wing national government and the conservative-run regional authority have been created to coordinate the recovery in Valencia and overcome their occasionally tetchy relationship.
But many survivors are furious with the authorities for failing to warn the population on time last Tuesday and provide urgent rescue and relief work.
That anger reached a breaking point in Paiporta on Sunday when crowds heckled and hurled mud at King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Sanchez.
“Only the people are helping, and the politicians, where are they? Why didn’t they raise the alarm? Murderers.”
“They don’t know how to take care of their people, let them go home. We know how to do better.”
The authorities have warned survivors to shield themselves from health hazards in the stagnant flood water, which may contain toxic waste, chemicals or bacteria from dead humans and animals.
Biology teacher Jose, 58, wore a mask and gloves during the clean-up of a garage in Sedavi awash with water for almost a week.
“Having stagnant water that can breed germs is a greater danger that we want to avoid, we’ll see if we can manage,” he stated.
Storms coming off the Mediterranean are common during this season. But scientists have warned human-induced climate change is increasing the ferocity, length and frequency of extreme weather events.
