Virginia Barcones, Director General of Spain’s Civil Protection, thanked Morocco’s King Mohammed VI on Friday for the “swift and effective” support in responding to the recent devastating floods in Valencia, known as the Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos (DANA) floods.
“The government and people of Spain deeply appreciate this valuable contribution from Morocco to the relief and crisis management efforts,” Barcones said, commending the professionalism and efficiency of the Moroccan teams on the ground.
The aid was mobilized following King Mohammed VI’s directives, with Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit coordinating with his Spanish counterpart. Morocco sent a team of 70 operators and 24 high-capacity water-pumping trucks, which arrived on Wednesday to support relief efforts in Valencia.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also expressed gratitude to Morocco, calling the act of solidarity “exemplary” and highlighting the strong partnership between the two nations, especially during times of crisis.
On Tuesday night, the Spanish Civil Protection Agency issued an emergency red alert for Málaga, warning of “extreme risk” and advising residents to avoid travel.
Around 3,000 people were evacuated from homes along the Guadalhorce River, where flooding had caused significant damage two weeks earlier.
This is Spain’s second major storm in two weeks. Residents of Valencia are still recovering from the previous storm, DANA, which killed at least 223 people, including five Moroccans.