Flood survivors blast authorities

Press, 26 October 1982, Page 9

Flood survivors blast authorities

NZPA Valencia Several survivors of floods which began four days ago in south-eastern Spain, and have . killed at least 50 people, have criticised what they consider to be inefficiency by authorities. Arcadio Espana, a chief aide to the mayor of Carcagente where nine people died, told the “Diario 16" newspaper yesterday that the deaths could have been avoided if officials “had told the truth about the Tous Dam.” The dam, 40km south-east of Valencia, was almost totally destroyed by waters from the Jucar River on Wednesday. But he said that

on several occasions the authorities denied that the dam had burst. The Carcagente Mayor. Mr Vicente Pla Noguera, said that he and others had urged people to climb on to the highest parts of their homes, “but the radio broadcast of reassuring official statements said there was no danger, and some people did not listen to us,” he added. The newspaper quoted another couple who were trapped by floodwaters in another small town. They criticised the Valencia civil Government for not giving sufficient warning about the serious dangers to people in threatened villages.