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Latest floods in Spain: Locals describe ‘nightmare’ scenes after floods in Spain kill almost 100 people

Latest floods in Spain: Locals describe ‘nightmare’ scenes after floods in Spain kill almost 100 people

Was the Valencian government prepared for flash floods?published at 11:43 Greenwich Mean Time, October 30

Guy Hedgecoe
Report from Madrid

Valencia’s regional authorities have faced criticism for allegedly being insufficiently prepared for flash floods.

“There are governments that privatize and dissolve as soon as institutions appear, and there are governments that are proud of it,” said Gabriel Rufián of the Catalan Republican Left (ERC).

He was referring to the conservative administration of Carlos Mazón, who, upon taking office in 2023, eliminated the Valencia Emergency Unit (UVE), considering it ineffective.

On radio, Mazón defended his approach to the crisis, saying that “experts are talking about an absolutely unprecedented situation.”

He also responded to allegations that flood warnings were not reliable enough, saying they had been delivered “in the right way”.