Spain’s flood-hit areas brace for new storms

Valencia charismatic warns effect of caller rainfall could beryllium terrible owed to nan magnitude of mud already connected nan crushed from nan erstwhile storm.

People successful flood-hit areas of Spain are bracing for a caller upwind beforehand expected to bring dense rain, 2 weeks aft nan worst floods successful Spain’s modern history killed much than 200 people.

Spain’s State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, issued an orangish alert connected Tuesday, nan second-highest level, for dense aliases torrential rains successful nan eastbound Valencia region, which was deed difficult by a erstwhile large wind connected October 29.

The charismatic decease toll from nan floods stands astatine 222 people, aft a year’s worthy of rainfall fell wrong hours.

Rosa Tauris, a spokesperson for Valencia’s emergency committee, told reporters that nan effect of nan expected rainfall could beryllium terrible owed to nan magnitude of mud already connected nan crushed from nan erstwhile floods and nan conditions of nan sewage system.

The emergency committee issued a typical informing calling connected municipalities and organisations to return preventative measures, including closing schools.

Tauris besides recommended that citizens activity remotely erstwhile imaginable and debar non-essential travel.

The municipality assembly successful Chiva, 1 of nan worst-hit sites, cancelled classes and sports activities, while successful adjacent Aldaia, workers piled up sandbags to protect nan town.

“We are placing sandbags to switch nan floodgates that nan erstwhile floods tore down,” municipal worker Antonio Ojeda said, hoping it will forestall nan Saleta valley from overflowing again.

Ditches and drains that are obstructed pinch trees, tyres and car parts are besides being cleaned retired successful mentation for nan rainfall.

On Monday, 10,000 tons of furniture, appliances, and clothing were removed, almost arsenic overmuch discarded arsenic Valencia disposes of successful a year.

Weather warnings were besides issued for nan Balearic Islands and parts of Galicia successful nan acold northwest, Catalonia successful nan northeast, and Andalusia successful nan south.

Weather forecaster Monica Lopez told nan authorities broadcaster that she did not expect nan caller storms to beryllium arsenic tumultuous arsenic those successful Valencia 2 weeks ago.

Royal visit

The preparations travel arsenic Spain’s King Felipe VI said he and Queen Letizia would return to nan epicentre of nan floods “early adjacent week” aft survivors heckled and threw mud astatine nan royals during their past trip.

The king is owed to return to Valencia connected Tuesday to meet pinch soldiers participating successful nan alleviation activity pursuing nan October 29 floods.

On Monday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a caller assistance package worthy almost 3.8 cardinal euros ($4bn) to residents, spot owners and farmers.

The authorities antecedently announced much than 10.6 cardinal euros ($11.3bn) successful economical betterment measures to thief flood victims and areas. The last measure to retrieve from nan floods is expected to soar to tens of billions of euros.

On Sunday, tens of thousands of people took to nan streets to protestation against nan authorities’ handling of nan floods.

Source

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Al Jazeera and news agencies