Von der Leyen pledges EU support to Spain amid devastating floods

As Spanish rescue services continue to deal with the devastating impact of flash floods, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels that the EU will assist by using its Copernicus geo-monitoring satellite system “to help coordinate the rescue teams.”

The chief of the EU executive said that the bloc stands ready to activate a civil protection mechanism offering the combined assistance of the other 26 member countries should Spain request assistance. “Europe is ready to help,” von der Leyen added.

At least 64 people have died so far, according to the emergency services. Searchers worked to find survivors and victims, with many still missing. Spain’s government said it will declare three days of mourning starting Thursday.

“For those who are looking for their loved ones, all of Spain feels your pain,” Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said in a televised address. “Our priority is to help you. We are putting all the resources necessary so that we can recover from this tragedy.”

Spain’s national weather service called the rainfall “extraordinary,” with 491 litres per square metre accumulated in eight hours in the Valencian locality of Chiva.

The death toll will likely rise with other regions yet to report victims and search efforts continuing in areas with difficult access.