The death toll caused by the DANA in Spain amounts to 219, as confirmed by the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska late on Wednesday. The figure includes seven people dead in Castilla-La Mancha after finding two bodies in Letur (Albacete), 211 in the Comunitat Valenciana, and one in Andalusia. The minister explained that in Letur six bodies have already been found, although three remain unidentified, while in Mira (Cuenca) also counted a fatality by the weather phenomenon. Grande-Marlaska, in an interview with Cadena Ser, detailed that the search for victims is focused on inaccessible areas such as garages and areas near the sea, where rescue operations have been difficult. Of the 211 victims in the Comunitat Valenciana, autopsies have been performed on 203, of which 133 have already been identified. The minister also assured that there is no plan to evacuate the inhabitants, highlighting the coordination between the Ministry of Health and the Valencian Regional Ministry to keep public health under control.
Ante mortem office and disappearance data
Until 20:00 hours this Wednesday, the ante mortem offices activated by the National Police and the Civil Guard recorded 93 active missing persons reports. The Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community (TSJCV) has recalled that these files are independent of the number of fatalities, since the situation changes as bodies are identified or live people are located. The ante mortem offices set up in the city of Valencia and other points, such as Albal, Alfafar and Algemesí, facilitate the provision of biological samples from relatives, crucial to the identification process. Of the 199 victims treated at the City of Justice morgue, 145 have been identified by fingerprints or DNA.
Concern about infections: no outbreaks, but health risk
The Minister of Health, Mónica García, has warned about the risk of infections derived from stagnant waters, although, for the moment, only isolated cases of gastroenteritis have been detected. In declarations to Cadena Ser, García explained that, together with experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), tracking protocols have been activated to prevent pathologies such as legionella and other potential infections in areas with stagnant water.
Assistance and relief of rescue teams from the Balearic Islands
The Balearic Government will send this Thursday a new contingent of 82 troops to the Valencian Community to continue the rescue and cleanup work. This group will replace the teams deployed since last Sunday, among which are firefighters and Civil Protection technicians from various Balearic towns, such as Ferreries, Santa Eulària and Villafranca. This relief will be made with the collaboration of the company Balearia, which has provided three ships for the transport of personnel and material. The Data Integration Center (CID) has confirmed that 84 of the bodies recovered in Valencia have already been handed over to their relatives for burial.
