The intense rains pounding eastern Spain since lastTuesday have caused devastating floods and river overflows, particularly in Albacete and Valencia. While several people remain missing, the death toll has surpassed two hundred, with rescue teams still reaching previously inaccessible areas. In response, the Government of the Valencian Community (Generalitat Valenciana) has set up three offices in Algemesí, Alfafar, and Paiporta to register reports of missing persons and provide psychosocial support to those affected.
The Valencian Community continues to grapple with the severe impact of a DANA storm nearly a week later. The provisional list of municipalities affected by the DANA in Valencia Province has reached 71, accounting for 26.69% of all localities, according to updates from the Generalitat's Emergency Coordination Center.
To manage the crisis, thousands of personnel, including military, firefighters, and Civil Protection staff, have been deployed. Power has been restored to 95% of affected areas, although isolated issues remain, and work is ongoing to repair the potable water network. However, water supply is still not suitable for human consumption in some areas, and twelve municipalities remain without gas service.
Following the DANA's passage through the Valencian Community, the Emergency Coordination Center deactivated the rain alerts as of November 5, though flood alerts remain at level 1 in Castellón and level 2 in Valencia. Currently, over 1,700 firefighters and 6,700 military personnel are engaged in cleanup and support efforts, a figure expected to rise to 7,800 in the coming hours. Additionally, personnel from the National Police, Civil Guard, and local forces are working to remove debris, inspect infrastructure, and restore essential services.
A week after the disaster, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the approval of an Immediate Response, Reconstruction, and Recovery Plan for the regions affected by the DANA, specifically focusing on the Valencian Community, Castilla-La Mancha, Andalusia, Catalonia, and Aragón. According to the Prime Minister, this plan "will last as long as necessary to restore normalcy in the affected areas." With an initial investment of €10.6 billion, the plan will unfold in three phases: immediate response, reconstruction of impacted areas, and economic recovery, aiming to restore normalcy and adapt regions to future climate challenges.
To coordinate the reconstruction and recovery phases, the Government will establish an inter-ministerial commission and seek assistance from the European Solidarity Fund. Additionally, direct aid has been approved for affected citizens and businesses, drawing on previous crisis management experiences and including financial support for damage repairs, municipal emergency expenses, and tax relief to ease the financial burden on those affected.
On the night of November 29, the Government established a crisis committee in response to the severe consequences of the DANA, with the first meeting held at the National Security Department in La Moncloa, chaired by María Jesús Montero, First Vice President and Minister of Finance, with the presence of Minister of the Presidency, Justice, and Parliamentary Relations Félix Bolaños; Minister of Defense Margarita Robles; and Minister of the Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska. Virtually, Third Vice President and Minister for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge Teresa Ribera and the Government’s Delegate in Valencia, Pilar Bernabé, also participated.
The committee’s goal is to coordinate response and assistance efforts, deploying all available personnel from the Military Emergency Unit (UME) alongside the National Police, Civil Protection, Civil Guard, local agents, and firefighters to rescue hundreds of people trapped in the most affected areas, such as Utiel.
Additionally, the DANA has severely impacted water supply and sanitation infrastructure, with over 100 treatment plants affected. Secretary of State for the Environment Hugo Morán informed Congress that, while water supply in terms of quantity and quality is being ensured, certain conduits have been completely destroyed in some areas. The situation is especially critical in sanitation systems, which have sustained significant damage due to their location in low-lying areas.
