7,987 troops are working in the affected areas, with 1,639 vehicles, including 12 helicopters and 18 boats.

On Wednesday, the Integrated Data Center (CID) reported that the number of people who have died in the flash floods that devastated parts of eastern Spain recently stands at 217, with 89 more still missing.

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Some 211 of the victims are in the region of Valencia, five in neighboring Castilla-La Mancha and one in Andalusia. The Spanish government said 7,987 troops are now working in the affected area, with 1,639 vehicles, including 12 helicopters and 18 boats.

The forces are also supported by around 5,000 National Police and Civil Guards, along with other rescue services including fire brigades from others parts of the country.

Apart from already announced aid packages by the Spanish government, the European Investment Bank and the Spanish government are also working on a further aid package.

In Valencia, the General Directorate of Traffic asked citizens to avoid travelling on the V-30 and V-31 roads, reminding them that mobility restrictions remain in place on some roads in the province. The emergency services continue to rescue people. Last night, an Army helicopter rescued two elderly people and their pets from a house that was isolated near the Magro River.

The work of helicopters is being vital during these days in rescue and debris removal tasks. Some models such as the Chinook are the only means capable of moving vehicles from river beds, in places where cranes cannot access due to the still impassable state of many roads and infrastructure.

On Wednesday, radio station Cadena Ser, citing Interior Ministry sources, reported that Spanish Civil Guards have arrested three people in connection with an attack which happened several days ago in the food-hit town of Paiporta.

teleSUR/ JF Source: Xinhua

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