DANA in Spain: Are you Colombian and need emergency help? This is how you can contact the Consulate

Colombia announced that it will help fellow citizens who have been affected by the tragedy in Valencia, Spain, due to the floods caused by DANA, the worst of the century and which left more than 70 deaths, according to authorities.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement to express “its solidarity with the government and people of Spain due to the serious floods that are hitting several areas of their country. “Colombia expresses its condolences for the victims of this tragedy and hopes for a prompt and complete recovery of the territories.”

Through the Consulate in Valencia, the Government of President Gustavo Petro activated the emergency protocol, establishing the following Customer service channels: [email protected], [email protected], telephone line: +34 696 84 64 69.

The consul in Valencia, Gillian Maghmud, when speaking with Noticias Caracol live, urged the affected family members and Colombians not to call the number, which was overwhelmed by the anguish of several citizens; instead, requested to send WhatsApp messagesmany of which the diplomat is responding to.

Likewise, it will issue “alerts, if necessary, and recommendations so that citizens know the danger zones, safe places and preventive measures. The information is published on the Foreign Ministry’s social networks, on the consulate’s website, and through the media.”

The Colombian Consulate will also work together with the Valencia and rescue authorities to facilitate access to shelters, medical services and other support required by compatriots, whom it will census to identify their needs.

“In case of loss of documents due to flooding, the consulate can provide documents, such as ordinary, emergency or exempt passports“, indicated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which, through the Consulate in Valencia, “will facilitate the affected Colombians in contact with their families to inform them about their situation.”

According to the national government, there are reports of several compatriots with their houses flooded, but they are not in danger. Shortly after, the Foreign Ministry issued a statement informing that “There are no Colombians identified among the deceased“. He also noted: “Five Colombians had been reported missing, currently three have been located by local authorities”.

Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador are the countries of origin of the majority of Latin American migrants in the Valencia region, the most affected by the storm. More than 34,000 Colombians, about 19,000 Venezuelans and nearly 12,000 Hondurans reside in the area.

The Spanish authorities, who are still managing provisional figures and working on identifying victims, have not yet provided the identity of those affected from third countries. However, Latin American embassies, such as the Colombian one, have opened an emergency channel to communicate with their affected nationals.

Calls circulate on networks for the disappearance of several Colombian citizens and a young Honduran.

“The last time I spoke to my son was last night, he told me that the water reached his waist and he has not answered me again,” a woman told the EFE news agency, through tears, who said in front of the cameras. that his son is Colombian and he was in Benetússer working, in case it helps to identify him.

She, along with other relatives of the missing, was on one side of the Turia River in Valencia, at the access to the V-30 and in front of the district of La Torre, also flooded, to try to access the other side in search of her son. . Police officers evicted them from the area.

“I just ask and ask and they don’t tell me anything. They just tell me to connect with Benetússer and I call and call, but they don’t answer me,” said the distraught mother.

The provisional number of deaths exceeds that caused by the failure of the Tous dam (Valencia) in 1982, when there were 38 deaths, while the emergency services are working to reach the most affected areas, which remain incommunicado since the Tuesday, October 29.