The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has revealed that the cabinet will approve the declaration of areas severely affected by a civil protection emergency due to the DANA weather system ravaging eastern Spain. The government plans to allocate financial resources and expedite public contracting to restore normalcy as quickly as possible. "The government will be involved in the reconstruction," Sánchez assured.
This announcement followed his visit to the Advanced Command Post in Oliva, Valencia, one of the hardest-hit areas, where he met with emergency response officials and mayors from affected municipalities. Sánchez was accompanied by Third Vice President and Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Sara Aagesen; Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska; and Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant. Also present were Government Delegate Pilar Bernabé and the President of the Generalitat, Juan Francisco Pérez Llorca.
During his visit, the Prime Minister expressed condolences to the families of the five victims who lost their lives due to the heavy rains and thanked all members of the Civil Protection system for their "dedication and spirit of selflessness." He highlighted the cooperation and shared knowledge among various levels of government in protecting the lives and safety of citizens.
Sánchez emphasised that "cooperation and unity are essential" in the face of such disasters, pointing out that the recent events in the Comunitat Valenciana demonstrate how effective responses can be achieved through collective effort. He also noted that the situation is closely linked to a climatic reality that has exceeded scientific warnings issued years ago, urging the need for a "great national agreement on climate emergency." He described this agreement as "common sense" that could "save lives," stressing that cooperation must extend to both the prevention and adaptation phases surrounding civil protection emergencies.
