Latest flood in Spain: Emergency teams rush to find survivors of Spanish flood as rubble cuts off communities

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Was the Valencian government prepared for flash floods?

Guy Hedgecoe
Reporting from Madrid

The regional government of Valencia has been criticized for failing to adequately prepare for the flash floods.

“There are governments that privatize and dismantle when they end up in institutions and there are governments that are proud of that,” said Gabriel Rufián of the Catalan Republican Left (ERC).

He referred to the conservative government of Carlos Mazón, which eliminated the Valencia Emergency Unit (UVE) when it took office in 2023, saying it was inefficient.

On the radio, Mr Mazón defended his handling of the crisis, saying that “the experts are talking about an absolutely unprecedented situation”.

He also responded to claims that warnings about the floods were not strong enough, saying they had been given “in the right way”.