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VALENCIA. When the alarm went off, parts of Valencia had already been flooded.
Now the population rages against the late management of the authorities.
– When we got the warning, we had water up to our necks, says Irene Gil Moreno.
With excavators and shovels, Irene Gil Moreno, 25, and her family try to clear away the mud and water that entered their house in Picanya.
The electricity is out and the basement is flooded. It will probably take a month to get it habitable again, he says.
– We have to clean everything, everything. It’s chaos. A disaster.
The weather phenomenon Dana hit Picanya hard when it swept across the Spanish east coast earlier this week and over 150 people have been confirmed dead.
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full screen Irene and her family shovel away the mud outside the house. Photo: Krister Hansson / Krister Hansson Aftonbladet
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full screen”It’s chaos. A disaster,” says Irene. Photo: Krister Hansson
“Looking for bodies every day”
In recent days, more and more focus has been directed at the local authorities’ handling of the disaster. Eight hours before the first warning text messages were sent out, several houses had already started to flood, according to the report El País.
– The police are looking for bodies every day. This is the government’s problem. They haven’t told us anything. When the alarm went off in our mobile phones, we had water up to our necks. It is a disaster, says Irene Gil Moreno.
The roads in Picanya are littered with abandoned cars.
13-year-old Pablo and his father are standing by the side of the road, waiting for a tow truck to retrieve the car they just found after the floods.
He was scared when the storm moved in, he says.
– One moment you are happy, the next you are sad. In my area we have no coverage, no water, no electricity. We are so tired, physically and mentally.
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full screen “We are so tired, physically and mentally,” says 13-year-old Pablo. Photo: Krister Hansson
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full screen Photo: Krister Hansson
“Empty shops”
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full screenLucia gil Cantos waits for her parents’ car to be picked up by tow trucks. Photo: Krister Hansson
Scores of volunteers have taken to the area to help restore it with brooms and shovels.
On a shelter sits 25-year-old Lucia gil Cantos, who lives in the area.
She describes the last few days as “very tough”.
– My family has really suffered. Their house, their car, everything is destroyed. We also can’t buy food or water because the shops are empty. But we try to help other people. Because there are those who don’t have a house anymore.
Do you think the warning from the authorities came too late?
– I was here in the morning when the water flowed and it is impossible to know because water and nature are cruel. But I really think the alarm went off too late.