The Spanish government has ordered the largest peacetime deployment of military and security forces in the flood-hit Valencia region as the country struggles to cope with the worst natural disaster in a decade, UNN reports citing Bloomberg.
Details
The new deployment is scheduled to take place over the weekend and will include 5,000 soldiers and 5,000 police and civil guard officers, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a speech on Saturday. This will bring the total number of troops and police in the affected areas to about 17,000.
Sanchez said that the new deployment is being carried out at the request of the regional president of Valencia, Carlos Mason, who has full control over emergency aid under Spanish law.
If additional support is needed, the Valencian government only needs to ask, Sanchez said. "I know that the response has been insufficient," and both administrations need to work together, he added.
Mason and Sanchez, who belong to rival parties, have come under increasing criticism as thousands of volunteers have taken to the streets on their own to help victims of the flash floods amid a growing sense that governments are not doing enough.
Addendum
The rainstorms of October 29 destroyed houses, roads and bridges, killed more than 200 people and left hundreds missing. In parts of Valencia, a year's worth of rain fell in a few hours.
Large-scale flooding in Spain: more than 200 victims01.11.24, 15:38