Spain’s National Weather Service issued renewed storm warnings for much of the country from Tuesday to Thursday, two weeks after rain and flash floods claimed more than 220 lives, most of them around the eastern city of Valencia.
Valencia authorities have reduced the number of missing from 32 to 23 as they continue their searches, mainly in the sea and coastal wetlands, using ships, drones and echo sounders.
The official death toll from the October 29 storms now stands at 222. A year’s worth of rainfall fell within hours.
The third highest and in some cases second highest level weather warnings have been issued for parts of the province of Valencia, for the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and for parts of Galicia in the far northwest, Catalonia in the northeast and Andalusia in the south.
The province of Almería in Andalusia experienced heavy rain and flooding on Monday. Nuria Rodríguez, mayor of the small coastal town of Balanegra, expressed concern. “We all still have the images of Valencia in our minds,” she said.
Weather forecaster Mónica López told the state broadcaster that she did not expect the new storms to be as intense as the one in Valencia two weeks ago.
Life returned to normal: 47 schools reopened on Monday, while clean-up work continued. Some roads remain blocked by rubbish and mud, and many people are still unable to return home.
The high-speed line between Madrid and Valencia was due to reopen on Thursday.
Royal visit in Valencia
On Tuesday, King Felipe VI visited Valencia again, this time without Queen Letizia. When they visited Paiporta in the Valencia region on November 3, they were pelted with mud and insulted.
No meetings with affected residents took place this time.
The king was informed about the recovery and clean-up operations. Nearly 20,000 soldiers and police, together with volunteers, provide assistance in the hardest-hit 80 municipalities.
Many among locals have accused authorities of failing to warn in time and mismanaging the response. About 130,000 people demonstrated in Valencia on Sunday in protest.
