Europe Pledges Over a Billion Euros to Aid Spain's Flood Recovery

The European Commission has unveiled an aid package worth 945 million euros aimed at aiding Spain's recovery from the worst flash floods recorded in the nation's modern history. Nearly 240 people lost their lives as a result of the torrential rains that struck in October, devastating communities in eastern and southeastern Spain.

The southern suburbs of Valencia suffered the greatest impact, with over 220 fatalities amid the chaos. Spain's government has committed 2.3 billion euros in reconstruction efforts throughout the hardest-hit areas, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez attributing the disasters to the effects of climate change.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized a total aid of around 1.6 billion euros when considering an additional 645 million euros reallocated from Spain's cohesion funds. She stressed this effort highlights the EU's dedication to supporting member states' resilience against future crises.

(With inputs from agencies.)