“We are looking for bodies on the ground floor, in garages, in piled up cars and even on the beaches.” Members of the emergency teams deployed in the areas most affected by DANA in Valencia tell ABC of the race against time in which they have been immersed since the afternoon of Tuesday October 29, the worst cold drop of the 21st century destroy part of the province.
The latest official figure of 202 is very far from reality. During the meeting of the Integrated Operational Coordination Center (Cecopi) this Friday, it was already confirmed that there were still 70 bodies that had not been removed from the place where they were found.
Unfortunately, the statistics are increasing by the houras explained by the members of the system and this is seen in the flood of new known cases of deaths which have not yet joined the tragic official list.
The troops of ArmyTHE Civil Guard and the Firefighters They are concentrating their efforts on searching for victims in previously inaccessible ground floors and garages. Many cars swept away by the flood blocked the gates. Precisely, missing people are also sought in these vehicles.
Outside the urban centers of the most affected localities such as Paiporta, Chiva, Alfafar either Benetusserthere are points of concern like the secondary roads where cars are still not removed or the Bonaire shopping center in the town of Aldaïawhose parking lot was literally submerged by water.
There are also other research centers, such as the surroundings of the industrial zone. Ribarroja or beaches like this Marényto which forensic experts went this Friday due to the discovery of new deaths.
THE Firefighters and the Civil Guard They even use boats to access flooded garages and dive teams for rescue operations.
As the hours pass, discouragement grows regarding the search for survivors. However, this Friday three people were found alive in Ribarroja.
A thread of hope in the face of the worrying list that the authorities are still managing with 2,500 calls to the telephone number of missing people 900 365 112 which have not yet been clarified.
Image of the effects of DANA in the Valencian town of Paterna
Since Wednesday, forensic doctors have carried out 162 autopsies of deaths caused by DANA in the province of Valencia, of which 39 are already fully identified. All the bodies that were examined to determine the causes of death were transferred by the UME from the City of Justice of Valencia to the morgue installed in Fira Valencia.
