Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Monday the adoption of a new package of aid measures. for those affected by the deadly floods of October 29 in the Valencia region. representing an investment of nearly 3.8 billion euros. The French government had already announced last week an initial aid package of 10.6 billion euros following the disaster, which claimed more than 220 lives. “The government is present and will be present, with all the necessary means, and as long as necessary (…) we will continue the work to restore normality in the areas hit by this natural disaster.”promised the head of the Socialist government at a press conference.

Time for “political debate will come after that of reconstruction,” also assured the Prime Minister. “The government is doing what it has to do. And what we must do is rebuild after this tragedy and relaunch economic and social activity.”said the head of the Socialist government at a press conference. “Later on, the political debate will focus on what needs to be improved in the face of this climate emergency and, no doubt, in the face of taking on political responsibilities which, of course, will have to be justified.”he continued.

Measures similar to those taken during Covid

Pedro Sánchez assured that support measures would be extended to a greater number of people and goods, and that farmers would also receive new aid totaling 200 million euros. Pedro Sanchez compared these measures to the state’s intervention to support the economy during the Covid-19 pandemic. The first aid package announced last week included support for small and medium-sized businesses, the self-employed and households that have suffered death, disability and damage to homes or property.

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Tax relief, a three-month deferral of mortgage and loan repayments, and central government spending on the huge clean-up work facing local councils were also announced.

Thousands of soldiers, police, civil guards and emergency services are repairing destroyed infrastructure, distributing relief supplies and still searching for dozens of missing people. Widespread anger at the alleged mismanagement of the authorities before and after the floods led to mass demonstrations on Saturday, the largest being in Valencia, where some 130,000 people gathered. The national weather service has forecast further heavy rain in the Valencia region this week.

Regional president acknowledges “mistakes

For his part, regional president Carlos Mazón acknowledged “mistakes”. in the chaotic management of the floods that have claimed at least 222 lives, according to the latest death toll released by the government. “I think we have to accept that mistakes may have been made without any doubt, we have to do it in all humility.”he said at a press briefing.

Carlos Mazón is due to address the Valencian regional parliament on Thursday on the management of the disaster. “We’ll start talking politics, explanations (…) from Thursday”.he assured. The region’s president, Carlos Mazón (People’s Party, right), and the head of the Socialist government, Pedro Sánchez, have been accused by disaster victims of underestimating the risks and poorly coordinating emergency aid.