With more than 200 people losing their lives, volunteer efforts remind us of the real beauty in humanity.
Nearly one week after the deadly floods in Valencia, Spain, the extent of the disaster is being realized. With at least 217 deaths due to the flooding, infrastructure and livelihoods have also been destroyed, and families are left mourning the loss of loved ones.
However, as is so often the case in times of need, the disaster has brought out the best in people. According to reports, such as this one in the New York Times, thousands of Spanish people made their way to Valencia in a bid to help clean up the debris that the floodwaters left behind.
In fact, farmers gathered together and drove their tractors to the flood-hit areas to help clear away the wreckage. As the Agricultural Association shared on its social media: “The countryside is once again showing its solidarity.”
Valencia’s soccer stadium, Mestalla, is serving as a makeshift emergency center. Instead of the usual shouts of support for the players, volunteers are offering their gratitude to those dropping off essentials. As the club’s corporate director Javier Solís shared:
The image of Mestalla filled with people coming together, arriving to donate products, and applauding each time a truck leaves full of food and basic necessities, will be unforgettable.”
The soccer club also pointed out on this reel of an elderly lady named Isabel helping out at Mestalla: “solidarity knows no age.”