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The President of the European Commission announced this Wednesday that the Copernicus satellite system has been activated to help coordinate relief teams in the face of the effects of Storm Dana in Spain, which has already caused 63 deaths.
“We have activated our Copernicus satellite system to help coordinate rescue teams and have already proposed activating our civil protection mechanism. “Europe is ready to help”said Ursula von der Leyen, in Brussels.
The objective of activating the civil protection mechanism of the European Union is strengthen civil protection cooperation between Member States and ten other countries to provide a better response to disasters.
Von der Leyen referred to the “dramatic situation” in Valencia and throughout Spain. “What we are seeing is devastating. Entire cities are covered in mud, people seek shelter in trees and cars have been swept away by the raging waters,” he said.
The president of the European Commission recalled that Dozens of people have died and “thousands” are displaced.
“You Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, friends, but also with the rescue teams.. Rescue teams are working tirelessly to bring as many people as possible to safety. Europe is willing to help,” highlighted the president of the European Commission.
Von der Leyen said that in just a few months floods have affected Central and Eastern Europe, Italy and now Spain.
“This is the dramatic reality of climate change and we must prepare to confront it throughout the Union and with all the tools at our disposal,” Von der Leyen stressed.
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, assured that the European Union “is willing to lend its support” to Spain and thanked the Spanish emergency teams “for their unwavering commitment to saving lives” after the floods caused by the Dana meteorological phenomenon.
“To all first responders, thank you for your unwavering commitment to saving lives. “Europe is ready to lend its support”declared Michel in social network.
Our thoughts are with the people of Spain during these devastating floods. Our deepest condolences to the victims and their families. Dear Peter @sanchezcastejonwe are by your side ?????????
To all emergency teams, thank you for your unwavering commitment to save…
—Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) October 30, 2024
Charles Michel offered his condolences to the victims and their families and offered his support to the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez.
In the same sense, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola also assured that the EU “is willing” to help Spain in the face of “very serious floods that are having catastrophic consequences.”
Bad weather in eastern Spain caused at least 63 deaths last night and early morning, according to a new report from local authorities.
The most affected region is the Valencian Community, and the regional government confirms at least 62 deaths. A fatality has also been confirmed in the neighboring region of Castilla La Mancha.
Since Tuesday, several regions of Spain have been under the influence of an “isolated high-level depression”, a meteorological phenomenon known as DANA, which caused torrential rains and incidents in several parts of the country, especially on the Mediterranean coast.
The most affected region was the Valencian Community, in the east of the country, with unprecedented levels of rain, which caused the most serious alerts and warnings from Civil Protection and Meteorology on Tuesday night.
Source: Observadora
