Residents of the Spanish town of Algemesi are expressing their outrage.
The neighborhood of Raval endured some of the most severe impacts of the sudden flooding, leaving its inhabitants feeling forsaken.
At least 158 individuals have perished due to the calamity in eastern Spain, with the most severe flooding primarily affecting the Valencia region.
Latest updates on Spain’s flooding: Looting reported as flood fatalities exceed 150
“When the alert sounded, the water was already two metres high,” Carolina cries out from her balcony. “There were no authorities, no emergency services, and no mayor. No one attempted to assist us.”
The sentiment of despair reverberates through every street.
Carmen buries her face in her hands, sobbing.
“They have lost everything,” she states, gesturing towards her neighbors’ residences.
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Every residence is devastated, leaving their owners heartbroken.
Dolores invites us into her home. She recounts how the floodwaters reached the ceiling, and due to the absence of assistance, they resorted to creating holes in the walls to drain the water.
“I feel terrible. I’m filled with dread and fear. My husband is unwell – we desperately need more help,” she laments.
Dolores mentions her family had to create holes in their home’s walls
The extent of devastation is significant.
On the streets, we encounter Noel with his children, the youngest wandering barefoot through the mud.
Just yesterday, Noel and his spouse had nothing to eat, leaving him feeling powerless.
Noel shares that he lacks access to water, electricity, or food
“Currently, some individuals are ensnared. The mud reaches their waists, preventing them from opening their doors,” he explains.
“I reside on an upper floor, so flooding wasn’t an issue for me, but I lack water, electricity, and food.”
A pervasive sense of despair is emerging within this neighborhood.
At one moment, someone cries out “food!” and a crowd rushes to seize what they can from a nearby store.
It remains unclear whether the store owner has granted them entry or if they are indeed looting.
The destruction is staggering, and at a time when residents are most vulnerable, they feel both isolated and exasperated.
At a nearby shelter, we meet individuals from Algemesi who have lost their homes to the flood.
Carol confides that she has never felt such hopelessness.
Carol expresses that there is ‘nothing left’
“A tree trunk crashed into the front of my house. There are no walls, no ceiling. I own nothing. There’s literally nothing left,” she explains, tears streaming down her face.
For many, the initial shock of this environmental disaster has been worsened in the aftermath by feelings of grief and isolation.
