The mayor of Aldaia issued a dramatic warning: “The situation is terrible, with 10,000 cars abandoned on the streets and mud everywhere. We need heavy machinery to clear the streets, we can’t do it alone”. Aldaia is one of the municipalities in the southern area of ​​Valencia seriously affected by the floods caused by Dana. Even four days after the event, many neighborhoods remain isolated, without electricity and drinking water, despite significant efforts by the armed forces and rescue workers. The mayor of Torrent, Amparo Folgado, said: “Only one bridge is left standing in our municipality. We are working with the residents and security forces to restore some semblance of normality and help people return home”. Currently, around 800 displaced people are in a sports hall, and electricity has been restored to much of the area, but access to many neighborhoods is impeded by piles of vehicles and debris.

The mayor of Chiva, Amparo Fort, also launched an urgent appeal on social media: “There is an immediate need for water and food since we have not received aid and the telephone network is down.” The Valencian government’s Emergency Center has asked affected municipalities to report areas for helicopter landings and spaces for heavy vehicles.

The volunteers were called by the regional government early in the morning to the Ciudad de las Artes in Valencia. From the early hours of the day, hundreds of people showed up ready to offer their help. These volunteers, coming from different parts of Spain, are waiting in line to receive necessary materials such as identification t-shirts, masks and tools for rescue operations.

Teams organized by volunteers are sent to the municipalities affected by the disaster that has caused more than 200 victims. The public transport available is not enough to accommodate all those who wish to participate. Miguel Salvador, responsible for regional coordination, emphasizes the importance of managing aid so that it does not interfere with the work of the emergency teams.

The volunteers include entire families and professionals like Cristina Sanz, a doctor who has already participated in the rescue efforts in Alfafar. The Valencian Government has imposed restrictions on traffic in the affected municipalities to facilitate the passage of emergency vehicles. In addition, another 1,000 soldiers have joined the operations already underway to remove debris and search for any missing persons.