Spain’s prime minister announces fresh flood aid of almost $5.3 billion
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The exceptional Mediterranean storm that lashed Spain two weeks ago particularly devastated the wealthy eastern Valencia region.
PHOTO:EPA-EFE
MADRID - Spain on Nov 11 announced fresh measures worth almost €3.8 billion (S$5.3 billion) to help stricken citizens recover from the country’s worst floods in a generation that have killed 222 people.
But Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez postponed the reckoning for Spain’s political class after tens of thousands of protesters demanded accountability for the disaster,
The exceptional Mediterranean storm that lashed Spain two weeks ago
The torrents of muddy water wrecked roads and railways, tossed cars, gutted shops and submerged fields, with the final bill expected to soar to tens of billions of euros.
Mr Sanchez on Nov 11 unveiled a second aid package worth €3.76 billion to reinforce aid worth €10.6 billion announced last week.
Compensation will be streamlined and extended to cover more residents and property, while farmers will also receive fresh aid totalling €200 million, the left-wing premier told a news conference.
Mr Sanchez has compared the measures to the state’s intervention to prop up the economy during the Covid-19 crisis.
The government “will be there with all the necessary resources and for as long as it takes”, he said.
Last week’s aid included support for small and mid-size businesses, self-employed workers and households that have suffered deaths, incapacity and damage to homes and belongings.
Tax relief, a three-month postponement to repaying mortgages and loans and central government spending on the immense clean-up work facing local councils were also announced.
Thousands of soldiers, police officers, civil guards and emergency services are repairing wrecked infrastructure, distributing relief and searching for dozens of missing people.
Widespread anger at the authorities for their perceived mismanagement before and after the floods triggered mass protests on Nov 9, the largest in Valencia city which drew 130,000 people.
Demonstrators have demanded the resignation of Mr Sanchez and the Valencia region’s leader Carlos Mazon as details emerge about the confusion enveloping the regional and central governments during the crisis.
But the government said it was focused on reconstruction.
“Later will come the political debate about what things we must improve in the face of this climate emergency”, Mr Sanchez said.
Mr Mazon on Nov 11 conceded that “errors may have been committed” and that “everyone” would be obliged to review them.
Although Mediterranean storms are common for the time of year, scientists say climate change driven by human activity is increasing the intensity, length and frequency of extreme weather events.
Spain’s national weather service Aemet has forecast another storm bringing heavy rains over the Valencia region this week.
