Valencia Floods: Majority of Victims Found in Closed Spaces
In the devastating floods brought about by the DANA phenomenon that hit southeastern Spain’s Valencia region, most of the victims were discovered in closed areas, according to a report by the Data Integration Center (CID). The DANA phenomenon is a meteorological term referring to a combination of cold and warm air masses.
Victim Locations
The CID report, released by the Superior Court of Justice of Valencia, indicated that provisional data showed 65 of the 218 officially recorded victims were found within their homes, and 32 in garages. In open spaces, most bodies were discovered on the streets (21) and in fields (24). These figures, however, may be revised as further checks and analyses are conducted.
Casualties in Other Locations
Additional details revealed that ten people perished inside their homes, seven on the roads, and two on country roads. Six victims lost their lives in their cars, four died after being admitted to hospitals alive, while three were discovered in trees, three in ditches, and three in basements. Other locations where victims were found include collapsed embankments, elevators, a Civil Guard barracks, under a car, in a supermarket parking lot, and on house terraces.
Identification of the Deceased
Out of the 218 deceased, 169 were identified through fingerprint analysis, 45 through DNA testing, while four were identified while still alive in hospitals. As per the latest official report, 13 people are still missing.
The floods have had a significant impact on the region, with bodies also discovered in a variety of other locations including a rice paddy, several beaches, the ground floor of a shop, a church, an industrial area, a sports center, a railway, a wharf, a farm, and a warehouse, among other places.
Conclusion
The Valencia flood disaster has underscored the deadly potential of extreme weather events. As recovery efforts continue, the focus remains on identifying the victims and providing support to the survivors.
