Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Wednesday an additional €2.3 billion (£2 billion) in aid to support reconstruction efforts in the Valencia region following devastating flash floods last month. The floods, caused by torrential rains on 29 October, have been described as the deadliest in Spain’s modern history.
The disaster claimed over 220 lives, with five people still reported missing. The Spanish government has now pledged a total of €16.6 billion (£14.5 billion) in aid to address the crisis, with Sánchez vowing continued support for as long as necessary.
Speaking in parliament, Sánchez defended his government’s response to the catastrophe, which he attributed to climate change. However, he criticised the regional administration, led by Carlos Mazón of the opposition People’s Party, for delays in issuing public warnings and advising residents to stay indoors, despite early alerts from meteorological and hydrography experts.
“Climate change kills,” Sánchez told lawmakers, highlighting the urgency of tackling the climate crisis. “There is something far more dangerous than the climate emergency, and that is denialist governments that, through action or inaction, ignore the devastating effects of climate change.”
Disaster management in Spain falls under the remit of regional governments, but the Valencia floods have sparked a political blame game between the leftist central government and the conservative opposition.
Scientists and meteorologists warn that climate change is exacerbating extreme weather events, with the warming of the Mediterranean increasing water evaporation and contributing to more intense rainfall. Experts believe this phenomenon significantly intensified the recent flooding.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Valencia on Saturday, demanding regional president Carlos Mazon’s resignation over floods that have killed more than 220 people. The protests highlight widespread anger over ongoing school closures and the government’s handling of the crisis.
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Thousands gathered in Valencia on Saturday in a protest against the government's reaction to the deadly floods that killed more than 220 people. Around 80 people are still missing after heavy rainfall burst the banks of rivers, devastating the Valencia province on 29 October.
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