Rescuers continue frantic hunt for 89 still missing in wake of Spanish floods

Fire responders are tonight hunting for bodies feared hidden under water after officials revealed at least 89 people remain missing following the Valencia floods.

Crews were in waders combing the city’s Turia River on foot and in inflatable boats, as the search operation entered its ninth day. The official death toll was last night at 217, , and it is estimated 400,000 people have been affected by the disaster. Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez admitted: “There are still to be located, homes and businesses destroyed, buried under the mud and many people suffering severe shortages.”

Officials say more than 15,000 soldiers are now in the area helping emergency service workers to clean up following the tragedy, which last Tuesday. Thousands of volunteers, including kind-hearted Brits, are also helping survivors, including at Levante FC’s stadium, where hundreds are making food and packing clothes and other essential supplies to be sent into the worst hit areas.

READ MORE:

Jon Iverson, 46, who is originally from Hull, east Yorkshire, was among those today making sandwiches at the stadium for up to 12 hours a day. He said: “My home is OK as I live on the fifth floor, but I came to help because I’ve got to do what I can. What has happened is awful and people need help.”

The former teacher trainer, who has lived in Valencia for 15 years, added: “The government response has been terrible, but things here at the stadium are really well organised.”

Levante FC’s players, including former Spain youth international Diego Pampin, 24, were also yesterday among those helping pack and move boxes of essentials, including food, nappies and cleaning products, at the club’s stadium. He said: “I wanted to help. What has happened is a catastrophe. Families have lost everything.”

Products have been arriving at the stadium from well-wishers all over Spain. First team manager Julian Calero, 54, said: “It makes me very proud to see what is being done here and how the players and other staff at the club are helping. Lots of people here have been affected and a member of the club’s foundation is among those missing. We are one big family and are helping each other.”

Julian’s daughter Gema, 26, is also among those helping at the stadium. The nurse said: “Valencia is a very international city so we are getting lots of volunteers of all nationalities, including English people, here helping us. It’s very difficult, but thousands of people are coming to help.”

Private chef Carlota Bonder, 37, is among co-ordinators organising food supplies, including sandwiches, paella and fruit and veg on the stadium’s concourse. Incredibly, they have made up to 15,000 meals every day since Saturday.

Carlota travelled from Ibiza last weekend to help set up the relief effort as part of Chefs Solidarios. She said: “I was in shock watching the situation on the news. I was crying and said: ‘This is a disaster, they need us’. People are coming from all over to help us. This morning when we opened at 7.30am there were 200 volunteers outside.”

Volunteer Tamara Aduado, 30, added: “Some older people went five days without food and drink while trapped in their homes. We have people going out to them and giving them the food and supplies.”

Tamara, a business developer, added: “It is going to take months or even years for people here to recover.”

Events organiser Eva Goig, 50, wept as she told how she fears she has lost friends in the disaster. She is helping make and pack food in a bid to help. She said: “There are still many people missing and we need help. I thought humanity was gone, but I see looking at people here it is not. I am really touched by the response. It’s incredible how people are helping. It has given me hope in the darkness.”