An arts and science center, typically known for hosting opera performances, was repurposed on Saturday as the central hub for the clean-up efforts following devastating floods in eastern Spain that have resulted in at least 207 fatalities.
Volunteers gathered at Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences for the first organized clean-up initiative coordinated by regional authorities.
The unplanned influx of volunteers on Friday hindered access for professional emergency responders in certain areas, leading officials to formulate a strategy for the effective deployment of resources.
Carlos Mazon, the president of the Valencian region, announced on X on Friday: “Tomorrow, Saturday, at 7 in the morning, we will inaugurate the volunteer center in collaboration with the Volunteer Platform to enhance the organization and transportation of assistance from the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia.”
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was scheduled to address the nation on Saturday morning.
In some of the most severely affected regions, individuals have turned to looting due to a lack of food and water. Authorities reported the arrest of 27 individuals on Friday for thefts from shops and offices in the Valencia area.
According to utility company Iberdrola, over 90% of households in Valencia had their power restored by Friday, although thousands remained without electricity in isolated areas that rescuers found difficult to access.
Approximately 2,000 soldiers were deployed to search for missing persons and assist storm survivors, as a new weather alert was issued for the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, and Valencia, where additional rainfall is anticipated over the weekend.
Officials indicated that the death toll is expected to rise further. This incident marks Spain’s most severe flood-related disaster in over fifty years and the deadliest in Europe since the 1970s.
