Soon the focus of media attention will move on long before even a hint of normality returns to Paiporta in Valencia and to continue reporting on it will fail to arouse interest no matter its importance.

Regardless of the above, there is still so much to report on what happened and what is happening, even as politicians begin to squabble over ‘responsibilities.’

What happened in Paiport was a sudden collapse of normality taking with it the veneer of civilisation which we so take for granted. Suddenly, with no water (ironically) no electricity, no gas and in the dusk, people looked out from their balconies and witnessed people being swept away and the cries of people drowning in their street-level business premises trapped within. That is not an exaggeration: it’s what was happening in front of witnesses’ eyes.

The next day, the street, which had been converted into a river the evening before, was anything but a urban street. Every kind of debris was littered along it, thick mud and piled cars, one on top of the other. Bodies amongst it, as well as in shops, single-storey houses and underground garages.

We’re not making this up; this is what was recounted to us by a mother of a family of three.

The next day, people both needed to go out to find water and food but at the same time feared leaving their upper flats unattended for fear of thieves ransacking their homes. Those that stayed inside were reluctant to answer calls at their doors.

In one Chinese-run supermarket, ruined by the flood waters, the father invited people off the street to take what they needed – his teenage daughter had drowned in another shop that the owned and yet here he was saying, “take what you need.” In another supermarket people had entered, half ashamed, in search of water, above all else, taking in its absence cans of drink – any liquid was better than none.

In that same supermarket a person was trying to carry away a monitor screen and the other people there turned on him, telling him that taking what you need to survive is one thing; that kind of stealing was not. He put it down and left.

It was a waste of time phoning the emergency numbers because they were saturated; every available police officer was already out on the streets. Bodies in groundfloor rooms filled with mud were left inside because the priority was finding the living.

Very few would venture out that following evening – it wasn’t safe.

I know this sound overly dramatic but it is the truth told to us by a mother with two daughters, but it demonstrates that civilization is fragile and the wider the disaster; the longer it is down and the harder it is to get back.

In reality, there is nowhere that is safe because we live in an area prone to seismic activity and you can never count on the shops being open, abundant food being available and clean water coming out of your taps, so make sure that you have plenty of bottled water, canned food, torch batteries and candles – you might never need them… but that’s infinitely better than not having them if you do. If Covid taught us anything, it is to be prepared.

(Editorial: Paiporta, Valencia – Photos: Sarah, the youngest daughter)

Keywords: Flood, Disaster, Civilisation, Shops, Looting, Fear, Electricity, Drinking Water

Reader’s comment: “Wonderfully thought provoking reporting. The mainstream media tend to focus on the drama of the damage and destruction and secondly on the human suffering of those directly involved, then quickly pass on to the next dramatic event. We respond by donating money or by collecting and donating food and clothing for the immediate relief of the affected, then it is quickly forgotten. The local population who, like this young family have witnessed these tragic events, not only have to deal with the horror of the event and the immediate aftermath, but have to pick up their lives and continue living with the memories in the same place where they are reminded daily of what has happened where they live. I only wish that there was more that we could do for these people and for others caught up in catastrophic situations. A footnote, a heartfelt round of applause for WCK and their volunteers who have immediately responded by organising food for the survivors.” – George