Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone strike targeted the town of Yater, South Lebanon
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One martyr and five wounded in an Israeli drone strike on a car in Al-Numayriyeh, Nabatieh District.
Al Mayadeen correspondent to Gaza: The areas required to be evacuated in western Gaza contain tens of thousands of displaced people.
Al-Mayadeen correspondent to Gaza: The Israeli evacuation threats are for areas the occupation considers safe, deep within western Gaza.
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister: Beirut has not received any official memorandum from Syria, neither through the Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic channels nor via the joint Lebanese-Syrian committee.
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister told Al Mayadeen that he has not received any official notification regarding a potential visit by his Syrian counterpart to Beirut
Russia calls for the continuation of ceasefire between "Israel" and Iran without any breaks: Lavrov
The Israeli military command confirmed the death of an officer—a commander serving as a team leader in the elite 1st Golani Brigade’s Patrol Battalion—during intense confrontations in the southern Gaza Strip
Israeli media: An Israeli guard was killed in a shooting attack at the Gush Etzion Junction, and those who carried out the operation were injured
Ofer Military Court extended Nasser al-Lahham's detention for three days

Spain orders largest peacetime military deployment over flood crisis

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 3 Nov 2024 09:40
4 Min Read

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez describes the recent floods as "the worst natural disaster" in recent Spanish history and among the deadliest in Europe this century.

Listen
  • x
  • Spain
    Members of Spain's military clear debris from streets on November 2, 2024, in the aftermath of deadly floods in the town of Benetusser, in the region of Valencia, eastern Spain. (AFP)

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced the largest peacetime military deployment in the nation’s history, mobilizing 10,000 troops and police to assist in the aftermath of catastrophic floods that have claimed at least 211 lives across eastern, southern, and central regions, The Guardian reported on Saturday.

After leading a crisis committee meeting, Sanchez declared that all available government resources are being directed to address the "terrible tragedy", which has hit the Valencia region particularly hard.

Acknowledging that many aid efforts are still struggling to reach affected areas, he appealed for unity and urged an end to political disputes.

"There are still dozens of people looking for their loved ones and hundreds of households mourning the loss of a relative, a friend or a neighbour," the premier said in a televised address on Saturday morning.

"I want to express our deepest love to them and assure them that the government of Spain and the entire state, at all its different administrative levels, is with all of them."

Worst disaster in recent Spanish history

Describing the recent floods as "the worst natural disaster" in recent Spanish history and among the deadliest in Europe this century, Sanchez announced a significant increase in military and police personnel engaged in relief efforts.

In the initial 48 hours, Spain deployed its largest-ever peacetime force of military and police, completing 4,800 rescues and aiding over 30,000 people trapped in homes, on roads, or in flooded industrial areas, the Prime Minister highlighted.

Related News

Massive protests overrun Valencia post-flood, demand Mazon resignation

Spain King, Queen, PM pelted with mud in flood-hit Valencia

Nevertheless, he acknowledged that aid has been slow to reach many blocked and flooded properties and isolated villages. "That is why the Spanish government is today sending 4,000 more personnel from the military emergencies unit to Valencia province," he stated.

"Tomorrow, another 1,000 military personnel will arrive … I’ve also ordered the deployment of an amphibious navy boat that has operating theatres, helicopters and a fleet of vehicles that will arrive at Valencia port in the coming hours."

Additionally, Sanchez announced that 5,000 more national police and civil guards would be dispatched to the affected areas, supplementing the 2,500 soldiers and 5,000 officers already on-site.

He also pointed out that "our second priority is identifying and recovering the bodies of the dead and we need to do it quickly but with all the dignity and guarantees that the victims and their families deserve."

According to the premier, "over the past 48 hours, military and security personnel have inspected thousands of garages, riverbeds and roads, and recovered the bodies of 211 mortal victims."

He added that forensic teams and mobile morgues are working tirelessly in the disaster area.

Cities submerged by floods

Sanchez confirmed that power has been restored to 94% of affected homes, with phone lines expected to be repaired over the weekend.

Acknowledging public frustration over the response—particularly the delay in issuing an emergency alert—Sanchez appealed for unity and assured the public that a thorough review will follow, promising lessons for strengthening public services amid climate-related disasters.

"But now we need to focus all our efforts on the colossal task we face and to forget our differences and put ideologies and disagreements to one side and act together."

The floods, driven by torrential rains linked to the climate crisis, have submerged cities, towns, and villages, sweeping away infrastructure. An unknown number remain missing, with thousands lacking basic necessities as some of the hardest-hit areas remain cut off.

Saturday’s orange weather warning covered Castellon in Valencia and parts of Tarragona in Catalonia, highlighting the ongoing threat.

  • Valencia
  • Spain
  • Floods
  • Pedro Sanchez
STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Concrete and rubble fall from a heavily damaged building as Israeli soldiers search for survivors in a residential area hit by a missile fired from Iran, near Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)

'Israel' concealed damage inflicted by Iran in war, report finds

  • Politics
  • 5 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Yemenis burn US and Israeli flags during an anti-US and anti-Israeli weekly rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 20, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Sanaa slams UN envoy over biased statement on Red Sea operations

Palestinians carry the body of Abdul Qusay Issa, 23, who was killed in an Israeli military raid, during his funeral at the West Bank village of Salem, near Nablus, Sunday, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli settlers kill Palestinian youth in brutal West Bank assault

Vehicles drive past a banner showing portraits of the Iranian armed forces commanders and nuclear scientists who were killed in an Israeli strike, at Tajrish Square in northern Tehran, Iran, Monday, June 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran envisions a resistant, independent Middle East, Larijani says

An al-Qassam Brigades fighter stands over the corpse of an Israeli soldier killed in Khan Younis, Gaza, in footage published on July 10, 2025 (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)
Politics

Al-Qassam kill Israeli soldier in new 'scandal' for Israeli forces

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS