It took many years of water conservationists’ efforts, and the people of eastern Spain learned in August that floods are necessary with suffering where families search for the lost and communities face the giant cleanup job and infinite efforts to restore the facility. One of the mentioned stories is that María Murgui, who lives in Sedaví, states that her father Francisco had gone out of the house to get his motorcycle and has been missing ever since the water was rising in the community.
María and her family are among many in the Valencia region, where towns were left unprepared for the force of the flood resulting in the losses. The death toll of this catastrophe has already exceeded 218 people, and the number of those still missing has not been established, underscoring the tragedy of the region. “The last communication I had with him was when he phoned to inform us that he was all right and not to worry,” added María. However, she went out in the early morning the following day; he was not to be seen anywhere.
Severe downpours on October 29 have raised concerns over the Spanish emergency warning system, with flooding devastating communities. Most of them complained of receiving text alerts on the flooding, which began hours earlier, making them blameworthy of regional authorities. To this date, no official number has been given to the missing people in the tragedy, despite the passage of days. Spanish state broadcaster RTVE is still airing messages from family members who are still searching for missing loved ones. Learn more about Spain’s National Emergency Response Plan
Like other residents, María has been using social media by posting photos of her father and posting comments in the hope that he will be found. The uncertainty has affected the staff, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally. “It’s a rollercoaster. In response to the query, one woman responds, “Sometimes I wake up feeling that something can change, other times I do not.” Sedaví is only one of the thousands of cases in which neighbors are helping each other, and people are being compassionate during these difficult times.
However, the Spanish government has risen to the occasion by offering relief products. In the recent past, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez unveiled a €10.6 billion aid plan for nearly 80 of the flooded regions, stating they are fighting the same challenge as the coronavirus crisis. Besides short-term aid, the plan covers compensation of up to 60,000 euros to house owners whose homes suffered the storm damage, financial assistance for businesses, and repair costs of local infrastructure. Sánchez has also urged the EU to offer its support in the recovery process.
Sedaví and other areas of the city are still very much in evidence, and simply strolling through the town, one can visit the scenes of the tragedy. Houses and shops have been flooded, and streets are filled with piles of mud, people’s lost belongings, and cars. The rank smell of decaying foliage and wetness stays, and many military staff, community members, firefighters, and volunteers are left to clear what they can. Of course, water has been restored, but it is prohibited to consume it; people have been advised to take tetanus shots.
This has also resulted in tension between the government and the people of America due to the emotional cost of the disaster. Many of the people from the area that the Spanish royals and Sánchez visited recently used mud to protest their feeling of being neglected.
In Sedaví, people organized themselves when the state failed at that: some people, neighbors, and volunteers were cooking in the closed shops and providing food and other necessities. Most of them wear ganda-nashas to protect themselves from health hazards brought about by floods in the environment. Many thousands of the inhabitants come forward to help in the cleanup works and rebuilding, which is another example of the spirit of the people. Discover how the European Union supports disaster relief efforts.
The Spanish government has vowed to continue delivering aid and is expected to announce additional measures soon. However, for María and others like her, no amount of aid can replace what they’ve lost. The memories and mementos swept away in the floodwaters are gone, yet their resolve to move forward remains unshaken. “We’re not giving up,” María says. “There’s always hope.”
