For me the memory that will endure is not the cars that were swept away but two little boys aged 5 and 3 years old. Izan and Ruben from Torrent were being reported as lost. Many people shared their photo´s on FB. They had been with their father at the time but he could not maintain a strong enough hold on them and they were taken by the strong water current. Other children lost their lives in this disaster but these two boys have had their photo´s plastered on the television as well as social media so in one way they represent all of the children who lost their lives.

News broadcasters talk about the number of lives lost but out of respect for the grieving families these people tend to remain unnamed. There are still people lost, still families hoping that against all odds that their family members will be found alive. Heart breaking.

Rosemary

I still remember a few years ago with the usual regular warnings about only going out if essential - due to Canadian weather extremes - when the radio announcer gave that warning and then sounding like his continuing live voice (as opposed to a recorded message) he read out an encouragement from a local store to visit for some bargains that morning.

We went down to the coast today, the only trace of yesterday's flooding down there were a few puddles on the main road going through Torre del Mar, no mud and no signs of anybody having to clean out ground floor housing or commercial premises. I'd gone out in my hiking boots in case of muddy pavements and felt a complete idiot. All the schools have stayed closed today though, the Tourist Office in Torre was closed and the weekly street market wasn't on which is very unusual, I think they must have been instructed to stay away by the authorities.

one room 7/8ths scrapped of plaster. top to bottom... 30cm +/- on the top left
3 more and the hallways to do... They will take months to dry before any other plaster is applied... Sucks...
Might be easier and faster to knock down any non supporting wall and rebuild it.. That means the suspended ceiling also -
Bluetoothed a photo to the computer but cannot upload it because there is not an option to do it... nor any options..

There are a lot of problems on the site at the moment. Hoping that the techies will sort them out quickly as it is very disruptive.

Rosemary

Doesn't surprise me at all. We often had similar "idiots" to deal with - many of them in government or councils, and should know better!

The problems on the site have been sorted now so perhaps you could try again now.

Rosemary

Lots of videos appearing on FB showing the emotional scenes in the football stadium where they gathered to pay homage to the victims and their families.

Rosemary

They did that at the Levante game last week and now this week at Valencia...
Levante drew 1-1 / Valencia won 4-2

Yesterday one of my delivery guys arrived for the first time this month, he is normally extremely bright and cheery so it was a shock to see him blank eyed, dull and totally not himself so I asked what was wrong. Turns out he lives in one of the towns that was badly hit so he has lost everything. He is very grateful that his family is still whole but is worried that his wife and children are suffering in awful conditions. They have no way of maintaining even a basic normal life, no way of heating any of the rooms that they can still use. Knowing in your heart how devastating it is and actually coming face to face with the solid misery of it is totally different. He said that it is the mental scars that are causing him the most problems. Material things can gradually be replaced but the effect on the mental health of these people will continue long term.

Rosemary

From my knowledge you can still purchase gas heaters, electric heaters and bottles of gas in and around the affected areas... I am getting ready to take 3 buses to get to a Leroy Merlin and replace/purchase some electric tools I need... Taxi on the return leg...
It is still not a place for children..
Schools have opened - most just cleaned of mud, furniture cleaned and students back - no disinfection. the playgrounds still have toxic mud in them - covered by rocks now... Still releasing the toxic fumes...
Dust is very bad - big military trucks speeding down the dry roads. They are still pumping out lower levels of buildings and dumping the sludge in any available field..
Cars are still piled 5-6 high in any field or sport complex... Surprised no electric car has caught fire....
Today there is another manifestation in Valencia to get the government to resign...

He did not have the money to buy any heaters so I gave him three electric heaters amongst other things.

Rosemary.

Rosemary, aside of clearing up efforts is any actual aid getting through to victims?

Rosemary - our village donated food a few weeks ago....but what can we do now? I have googled but am a bit unsure about some of the websites...

I know that there have been loads of towns around the area gathering donations and have seen pictures of places where water and food is distributed. Many of the elderly were having food and medications delivered by aid agencies during the worst of the clean up operation but I do not know how much this has continued. Many people who work for the government were only used for a couple of weeks taking the food around but have now been withdrawn to do their normal work. Growinspain is in a badly affected area so he will be able to clarify what is currently happening.

Rosemary