A Moroccan resident of the town of Riba Roja, within the consular district of Valencia, lost his life due to the floods that hit southeastern Spain on Tuesday. Two other members of the Moroccan community were injured, while approximately 20 individuals are currently reported missing. The Moroccan Consulate in Valencia confirmed one fatality among the Moroccans residing in the area. Speaking to Yabiladi on Thursday, Consul General Said El Idrissi Bouzidi said, «The victim is a man born in 1979, a resident of Riba Roja, which falls under the consular district of Valencia. His body was found today». Regarding the injuries, Consul Bouzidi confirmed that two cases were transported to the hospital. The first case involves an individual with a pre-existing medical condition whose home was flooded, exacerbating their situation. However, they are now in stable condition and not a cause for concern. The second case is a man who was driving a truck in the vicinity of Valencia and suffered minor injuries due to the storm. The search is still ongoing for around 20 members of the Moroccan community residing in the area. However, this «does not necessarily mean they are victims, as the reason could simply be problems with the network that was disrupted by the hurricane», according to the same source. A crisis unit to assist Moroccans in Valencia The same source clarified that «the number of missing Moroccans was initially higher, but some were gradually found». The consulate receives daily calls from families in Morocco who have not received news about their relatives in the region. The consulate is making efforts to reassure the families by coordinating with various civil society organizations in the area to reach for the missing individuals, «but the blocked roads sometimes make the task difficult». Like other residents of the area, Moroccans living in Valencia and its surroundings have also «lost their cars and suffered material damages». The consulate has also received calls from some Moroccan families who have lost everything, including food, and food aid has been provided to them. In light of these circumstances, the consulate has established a «crisis unit» responsible for monitoring all cases that require assistance by traveling to places where victims may be located and coordinating with local authorities in this regard. Additionally, two telephone numbers have been designated to support community members affected by this disaster and to report missing individuals. Yesterday, the Spanish Minister of Regional Policy, Ángela Vítor Torres, announced that the provisional death toll from Storm Dana, which hit southeastern Spain on Tuesday evening and Wednesday night, has risen to 95. King Mohammed VI had instructed the Minister of the Interior to make a phone call to his Spanish counterpart, expressing Morocco's readiness to send relief teams and provide all necessary assistance to Spain in order to face this natural disaster.
