World News for Students of English

11-11-2024 15:00

Military units in eastern Spain are searching for bodies in rivers and flood-affected areas, as at least 89 people remain missing after severe flooding hit Valencia last week.

So far, over 200 people have died, but only 133 have been identified. Relatives of the missing are being asked to provide DNA samples to help identify bodies. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced 11.6 billion dollars in aid for the disaster, including cash assistance and loans for small businesses and freelance workers, as well as covering cleanup and infrastructure repair costs.

Nearly 15,000 police and military personnel have been deployed to help with rescue and recovery efforts, but there has been criticism over the government’s response time. Local leaders blame Spain’s river monitoring agency for not issuing alerts sooner. However, the agency stated regional governments were responsible for flood alerts.

Meanwhile, a scientific research vessel arrived in Valencia to search in hard-to-reach areas, as there are concerns that some victims may have been swept out to sea.

Difficult words: freelance worker (a self-employed person), alert (a warning to people to be prepared to deal with something dangerous).

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