The Armed Forces They calculate that in towns like Paiporta 25% of the total work to be done to restore normality has already been achieved. At ground zero of the harmful effects of DANA which devastated Valencia last week, the recovery is proving slower than in other areas where the system is deployed. Currently, there are already 211 deaths.
The other place where work has progressed by only 25% is in Utiel, on the banks of the Magro River, another of the epicenters of the tragedy. This is reflected in the internal data and details that EL ESPAÑOL was able to access about the operation commanded by the UME and in which the Army, as well as the Navy and the Air and Space Force, were involved.
These details make a chance of part of the war which is updated daily and which allows operation commanders to have a panoramic view of the progress of rescue and recovery work in Valencia and its region, which was seriously damaged by the disaster.
These data allow clearly visualize the scale of the challenge faced by Valencians, volunteers and the more than 8,000 soldiers of the armed forces, as well as the thousands of police, civil guards and firefighters deployed today after a week and a half of fighting against mud and debris.
For this reason, the destruction of the flood was such that after intense and uninterrupted works in other municipalities like Xirivella, Sedaví, Catarroja, Alfafar, Picanya, Torrent, Beniparrell or Albal progress has been, according to Armed Forces estimates, about 50% of what these localities need to return to normality. This is the situation in the majority of the 68 municipalities most affected by DANA after the intense work carried out in a week and a half.
The EMU gains access to a garage in the fight against DANA.
In towns in the south of the province, such as Algemesí or Carlet, and further inland, such as Buñol, the Armed Forces estimate in their daily analysis that 75% of the total work necessary to moderately return to normality has already been carried out .
Main problems
Some of the main obstacles they face in recent days are related to the difficulties encountered in the work of engineers. During the day, the wave of solidarity and the large number of people participating in cleaning tasks are such that the The operability of the machines of these specialists is reduced. They are most productive during shifts established at night, while volunteers sleep.
In addition, the dam waters and materials scattered in the streets of all these cities have forced the armed forces to require the use of personal protective equipment in the area. The smell, the possible spread of bacteria have made it essential in many places wear masks, synthetic gloves and even protective glasses.
For this reason, the force has been ordered to take into consideration the recommendations of the Ministry of Health.
EMU soldiers remove mud from the door of a house.
As the data reflects, The logistics situation today is “good”, unlike the days following the flood, everything was washed away. Regarding supply, the operation is in a transition phase. The first stage, in the first days, aimed to generate the necessary resources for the inhabitants who had lost everything and for these localities.
Transportation of resources to support the force occurs efficiently over time, based on Army analysis and oversight. And now, what costs the most to maintain the troops are the engineering machines, since they are mission essential.
Decisions
At the same time, road cleaning and debris removal activities continue in the towns of Requena, Ribarroja de Turia, Torrent, Paiporta, Algemesí and Paterna, in the province of Valencia, and in the town of Letur, in the province from Albacete. In addition, the search for missing persons and the distribution of essential items to the civilian population continue.
At that time, a total of 8,005 soldiers from the three armies and units from all over Spain They are deployed this Thursday in the municipalities of the Valencian Community affected by DANA. Among them, 2,103 belong to the Military Emergency Unit (UME), which is the one on which all the other soldiers depend.
The figure represents a slight increase from Wednesday’s number of troops, 7,987 in total, who are dedicated to, among other things, searching for missing people and cleaning up and bailing out tasks. The deployment includes 16 psychologists and psychiatrists to provide support to storm victims. The army carries out its tasks with a total of 1,914 specialized land, air and sea vehicles. More precisely, according to data provided by the government, 12 are helicopters; 93 are engineering machines; 1,692 are intervention and transport vehicles; 18 boats and 27 search dogs.
Due to the needs of the current situation, the Armed Forces decided to incorporate 12 refrigerated containers at the Valenci Fairto strengthen the morgue installed by the Generalitat.
Unit relays
In addition, 13 heavy extraction teams and 188 light medium extraction teams —which include 89 fire trucks and 99 motor pumps— They are responsible for extracting water and/or sludge. The UME, under the direction of the emergency by the Generalitat, modified the operational organization. So, he divided the disaster into four zones, each managed by a different tactical group.
In this way, the Armed Forces continue to provide the support necessary to sustain the units. At the same time, EL ESPAÑOL emphasizes that senior officials familiar with the mission are working to consolidate the logistical situation.
These same sources estimate that in the short term “additional efforts” will not be necessary in terms of the number of units deployed, since the ceiling set for the Armed Forces has been reached.
Experts consulted within the military emphasize that the specific capabilities most needed today are the engineering, vehicles, helicopters and other similar technologies that help move the thousands of tons of waste and debris generated by flooding.
Therefore, the command of the operation already planning how to relieve the units that are on the ground. Fatigue and fighting the aftermath of DANA will soon take a toll on the troops, and so a change will need to be made that will give respite to those who spend a week cleaning the streets and shoveling mud.
