Volunteers bring a ray of light to Spanish cities devastated by floods – Europe

Some came armed with mops and buckets, picks or shovels, while others carried bottles of drinking water and bags of groceries.

Thousands of volunteers of all ages, walks of life and nationalities turned out in Spain’s eastern Valencia region on Friday to help clean up after catastrophic flooding that killed at least 205 people.

“To Paiporta to help,” replied a group of fast-walking young people when asked where they were headed, referring to one of the worst-hit suburbs of the regional capital, Spain’s third-largest city.

“Where help is needed,” added one of the men.

The show of solidarity was a bright spot amid the devastation caused by this week’s floods, the deadliest weather to hit the country in modern history.

The floods damaged Valencia’s infrastructure, sweeping away bridges, roads and railway tracks and inundating farmland in a region that grows about two-thirds of Spain’s citrus crops, such as oranges, which the country exports around the world.

Nuria, an interior designer, came from the far-flung suburb of L’Eliana to help with “hard work, everything I can and all my heart,” she said.

People clean a mud-covered street next to piled-up cars after heavy rain in Alfafar, Valencia, Spain, on November 1, 2024. (Reuters/Susana Vera)

Bart, a Dutchman who also lives in L’Eliane, said he was moved by the solidarity shown by the many volunteers.

“It’s amazing. “Thousands of people are coming from Valencia, like a great corridor of people helping the victims of this incredible disaster,” he said, heading to help.

Food brought by some volunteers was in great demand.

“Nothing can pass, no food, nothing. The only thing that comes are the rescue trucks, which maybe can bring some food, but you have to walk 15-20 kilometers to buy bread,” said 59-year-old Rafael Lopez. who lives in the nearby neighborhood of Paiporta.

Reme Montero, 59, said she wanted to help clean up the first-floor apartments that were flooded.

“The disaster prompted me to come,” she said. – I will do whatever they tell me.

On Friday afternoon, regional authorities thanked the volunteers in a post on X, but asked people to stay away from the worst-hit areas, noting that large crowds of volunteers could make access difficult for emergency services.