Firefighters use a crane to dig up the wreckage of a car in search of victims buried on a riverbank in Paiporta, in the region of Valencia, eastern Spain, on November 3, 2024.(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Spain floods: 'Mass grave' fears as hundreds of bodies could be found in car parks

04 Nov 2024, 09:46 by Antony Clements-Thrower · Irish Mirror

Rescue teams are bracing themselves for the harrowing prospect of uncovering mass graves filled with hundreds of victims in the submerged car parks of Spain, following last week's devastating floods in Valencia. The area is presently grieving over a tragic count of 213 lives lost, but fears are escalating that the numbers could dramatically rise once the floodwaters recede from vast underground parking facilities.

Images from Bonaire Shopping Centre, not far from Valencia, depict the stark reality with entryways to large subterranean parking areas completely engulfed by murky waters. Dive squads are navigating through the darkness and have discovered countless cars yet to be inspected - a grim indicator that these spaces could tragically serve as mass burial sites for individuals who frantically attempted to evacuate but couldn't flee in their vehicles quickly enough due to the rapidly ascending waters during the storm.

Over the weekend, an insider painted the dire situation: "The most shocking scene is that of the escalators disappearing and sinking into the muddy pool the Bonaire underground car park has become. The brown water is still there.

"For sure, there are dozens of unusable vehicles floating around. It remains to be seen whether there are also victims who were trapped, because in their attempts to escape many people tried to leave by taking their vehicles."

Bonaire, one of Spain’s mega shopping hubs the size of 100 football pitches and home to 123 stores including high-street giants Zara and H&M, 34 eateries, a bowling alley and a 12-screen picture house, was desolate at a time when it normally bustles with weekend shoppers. Instead, the site was left to rescue teams and, regrettably, looters taking advantage of the deserted retail paradise, reports the Mirror.

The flood disaster has left more than 2,000 people unaccounted for, making it one of Spain’s most devastating natural disasters in living memory.

A woman rests as residents and volunteers clean up an area affected by floods in Paiporta, near Valencia, Spain.(Image: AP)

King Felipe VI of Spain is heckled by angry residents who throw mud and objects during his visit to Paiporta, in the region of Valencia, eastern Spain, on November 3, 2024.(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Yesterday saw an enraged public lash out at King Felipe during his visit to the afflicted Valencia region. Confronted by furious residents, cries of "murderer" and "shame" broke out, with questions hurled at him concerning the lack of preventative measures.

This incident underscores the increasing frustration towards Spanish authorities and their perceived inadequate response to the flood crisis. Locals and volunteers claim they've been left to fend for themselves due to a shortfall in official support for rescue operations, while missed opportunities for life-saving flood warnings, reportedly delayed until Tuesday night, add to the grievances.

Amidst the turmoil, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had to be hurried away as tensions escalated, per Spanish broadcaster RTVE’s reports. Police intervention, including mounted officers, became necessary as a group of several dozen individuals launched mud and menacingly gripped shovels and poles.

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