The biggest car scrapyard in Spain's history
By Paul Whitelock
After the devastating storms and floods in eastern Spain last week, which washed away cars, people, livestock and buildings, the authorities have estimated that some 100,000 vehicles have been turned into scrap. And they are in the way of clearing-up operations.
Aftermath of La DANA in Valencia [Photo courtesy of MN]
¡Vaya temporada!
La Dana is the worst for over 100 years. It hit the Valencia region with unbelievable force, causing some 315 deaths so far (around 80 people are unaccounted for), damage to homes and businesses and the destruction of thousands and thousands of vehicles, 100,000 according to official estimates, in el País Valenciano alone.
The cars are the biggest problem because they are in the way of clean-up operations.
As a result several desgüaces have been set up in the Valencia region, the worst affected area.
The cars have been logged and insurance assessors are on the way. The bill will be enormous.
An impromptu desguace in Valencia [Photo: El Periódico Mediterráneo]
Infrastructure repairs
The autovias A1and A7 are expected to re-open soon, although access roads into the affected areas remain closed.
It was expected that the AVE high-speed rail connection between Madrid and Valencia would re-open on Monday 11 November, after non-stop repair teams worked their magic.
Photo courtesy of 20 Minutos
Who’s to blame?
Carlos Mazón, the beleaguered president of the Generalitat Valenciana, is taking most of the blame for the slow reaction to the emergency.
President of the national government in Madrid, Pedro Sánchez, is also being criticised for not intervening sooner.
Last Saturday, during a visit to the area, both were attacked with mud and stones by an angry crowd. The king and queen, Felipe and Letizia, who accompanied the politicians, were also mobbed.
Carlos Mazón [Photo: El País]
Yesterday, there was a massive demonstration in Valencia City calling on Mazón to resign. People are angry, understandably.
Massive demo in Valencia [Photos courtesy of Diario Público and YouTube]
This is going to run and run …..
© Paul Whitelock
Links:
El desguace más grande de la historia de España
The King and Queen, and the prime minister attacked by flood victims in Valencia
Acknowledgements:
Diario SUR
MSN
RTVE
Photos:
Diario Público
El País
El Periódico Mediterráneo
Europa Press
MN
YouTube
Tags:
100000 vehicles, autovía A1, autovía A7, AVE, AVE high-speed rail connection, buildings, Carlos Mazón, cars, car scrapyard, damage to homes, desgüace, destruction of thousands and thousands of vehicles, Felipe, Generalitat Valenciana, king, La Dana, Letizia, livestock, Madrid, País Valenciano, Paul Whitelock, Pedro Sánchez, people, president of the Generalitat Valenciana, president of the national government, queen, scrap, scrapyard, storms and floods in eastern Spain, Valencia, Valencia region
