A Cuban-owned barber shop in Catarroja, a municipality in Valencia, sustained severe damage due to last week's floods in this Spanish autonomous community. The disaster led to the loss of essential work tools, furniture, and even the cash that had not been withdrawn in time.
The TikTok user karina_arteaga13, who appears to be the wife of the owner, captured their shocking discovery the day after the floods through several videos. One striking video highlighted the watermarks on the walls, indicating the significant height the floodwaters reached. Remarkably, only a television, several lamps, and an air conditioning unit were spared from the devastation.
"I am grateful for all the words of encouragement and heartfelt wishes. Strength to all those affected like us," she expressed on social media.
Government Response and Community Impact
On Tuesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared the first financial aid package for the flood victims, which have claimed over 200 lives and left an undetermined number of people missing. This announcement came less than a day after the President of the Valencian Community, Carlos Mazón, announced plans to request 31.4 billion euros in aid from Madrid.
The affected areas remain buried under mud, and estimates suggest that over 100,000 cars have been damaged. This storm is being recognized as one of the most severe natural disasters in Spain's recent history.
First-Hand Accounts of the Tragedy
Another Cuban residing in Valencia, José Delgado, shared his experience with the calamity. On his Facebook page, he recounted that on Tuesday, October 29, at 5:20 am, as his children were driving him from Valencia to Madrid for a flight to Cuba, they encountered light rain, never expecting the situation to escalate to such an extent.
Delgado recalled that decades ago, a phenomenon known as DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels) caused significant flooding in Valencia, leading to the decision to reroute the Turia River that ran through the city. However, this measure proved insufficient to prevent the catastrophe that unfolded.