November 4th 2024.
The recent flash floods in Valencia have left a devastating impact on the region, claiming the lives of over 200 people. Among the casualties are a British couple who were reported missing and were later found dead after days of search and rescue efforts.
The elderly pair resided near the small town of Pedralba, located about 45 minutes away from Valencia's east coast. Their bodies were discovered by local volunteers in a sparsely-populated area, along with that of a Spanish man. The town's mayor, Andoni Leon, confirmed this news yesterday. He also shared that the search for those unaccounted for was led by the town hall as no outside help had arrived yet.
Sadly, the number of British nationals killed in the floods has now risen to three. Last week, a 71-year-old British man lost his life after being rescued by boat from his flooded home on the outskirts of Alhaurin de la Torre, near Malaga. The regional president, Juanma Moreno, confirmed his nationality during his visit to one of the worst affected areas near Malaga.
The British man had been rescued by firefighters after his partner alerted the authorities. He was experiencing a heart attack and suffering from hypothermia. He was initially taken to a nearby hospital and later transferred to a hospital in Malaga, where he passed away due to multiple organ failure.
As for the British couple, they were found in what remained of their home on Saturday. The local mayor confirmed their nationality yesterday. The Spanish man who was also found dead has been identified as Francisco Quesada. He was discovered by his neighbor, Ruth Rodriguez, who had been searching for him with her family and friends. She shared that she started looking for him after he sent her videos of the flooded River Turia near his home. She also mentioned that the security forces did not find him, but it was the community members who discovered his body under the debris.
Mr. Leon, the mayor of Pedralba, expressed his gratitude towards all the volunteers who have been arriving to help. He also mentioned that the town had not received any outside help yet and they were becoming self-sufficient with the help of the volunteers.
The first members of Military Emergencies Unit UME, a branch of the Spanish Armed Forces, arrived in the town yesterday afternoon after the mayor raised concerns about the lack of aid. He noted that the town was still without drinking water and there were still a few people missing.
In a separate incident, King Felipe VI visited some of the affected towns, where he was met with anger and frustration from the survivors. Videos captured the survivors hurling mud and shouting insults at the King. Follow The Agency on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates and sign up for daily push alerts to have articles delivered straight to your device.
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