The Minister of Defense, Margaret Roblesrevealed this Tuesday that during the work of cleaning garages after the passage of the DANA for the Valencian Community there was soldiers who were injured or intoxicatedalthough he has not provided exact figures. Robles pointed out during his speech at the Joint National Security Commission in the Congress that this occurred in the “first moments” of the emergency and some of them “they had to be admitted”.
According to the head of Defense, the competent authorities to manage the emergency commissioned the military from the Military Emergency Unit (UME) to clean the garages. Robles has indicated that the emergency management “has already given some lines of action” that imply that the Armed Forces and firefighters They clean the garages and the first floorswhile the cleaning of the rest of the building that has been affected is carried out by private companies.
The minister has stated in 76 garages clean thanks to the work of soldiers and firefighterswho are currently working on another 50. In this context, the Minister of Defense has maintained that it has been “fundamental” for the competent authorities to ensure the safety of the military personnel stationed in the Valencian Community. “Protection and security are important to us,” he said.
Regarding the number of soldiers assigned in these 40 days, Robles has estimated that more than 18,000 have participated in 5,586 missions. The minister recalled that more than 300 search operations have been carried out in which They have rescued 108 people alive and recovered the remains of 95 deceased.
Robles has detailed that currently more than 8,500 troops from the armies of the Navy, the Military Emergency Unit (UME) and the Royal Guard continue to work on the ground “committed to aid and assistance.” In this time, nearly 20 helicopters, 30 drones, 130 engineering machines, 36 ambulances, 1,824 special intervention and transport vehicles have been used, 1,082 road cleaning and opening interventions have been carried out, and a road has been provided. access to agricultural cultivation sites.
Robles has insisted that the Army will remain there “as long as necessary”. “They feel fully united with the Valencian citizens, many of them are Valencians and many of them have also lost their loved ones in the tragedy,” the minister highlighted.