Spain’s national weather service issued renewed storm warnings for much of the country for Tuesday to Thursday, two weeks after rains and flash floods claimed more than 220 lives, most of them around the eastern city of Valencia.
Valencia authorities reduced the number missing to 23 from 32, as they continued searches mainly in the sea and in coastal wetlands using ships, drones and echo-sounding equipment.
The official death toll following the October 29 storms now stands at 222. A year’s worth of rain fell within hours.
The weather warnings at the third-highest and in some cases second-highest level were issued for parts of Valencia province, for the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and for parts of Galicia in the far north-west, Catalonia in the north-east and Andalusia in the south.
Almería province in Andalusia saw heavy rainfalls and flooding on Monday. Nuria Rodríguez, mayor of the small coastal town of Balanegra, expressed concern. “All of us still have the images of Valencia in our minds,” she said.
Weather forecaster Mónica López told state broadcaster she did not expect the new storms to be as violent as those in Valencia two weeks ago.
Life was returning to normal, with 47 schools reopening on Monday, as clearing up work proceeded. Some roads remained blocked with refuse and mud, and many people are still unable to return home.
The high-speed rail link between Madrid and Valencia was to be reopened on Thursday.
Royal visit in Valencia
Another visit to Valencia by King Felipe VI was made on Tuesday, 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 recovery and clean-up operations. Almost 20,000 soldiers and police, along with volunteers, are assisting in the worst-affected 80 municipalities.
Many in the local population have accused the authorities of failing to issue timely warnings and for mismanagement of the response. Around 130,000 people demonstrated in Valencia on Sunday in protest.
