Spain Floods: Death Toll Rises to 217, Football and Motorsports Suffer
Disaster Response Efforts Intensify
Spain has deployed around 7,500 soldiers to its flood-hit east to assist rescuers, as the death toll from the worst flash floods in modern history rises to 217. The Spanish football federation (RFEF) has postponed five of seven Copa del Rey matches, with several clubs from the Valencia region requesting a second postponement.
Football Suspended
Five of the seven Copa del Rey matches have been postponed, with new schedules announced by the RFEF. Ejea will host Hercules de Alicante on November 14, while Levante will play Pontevedra in Pasaron on November 19. Manises and Getafe will play on November 26, with Parla Escuela versus Valencia also scheduled for the same date. The only postponed match without a date set is Real Sociedad’s clash against Valencian side Jove Espanyol.
Real Madrid’s Support
Real Madrid’s visit to Valencia on Saturday was one of the several La Liga games postponed. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed his disappointment, stating that it was nonsense that competitions continued as expected in other parts of the country, and argued that there was no enthusiasm in Spain to play football at the moment.
Motorsports Impacted
Motorsports have also been severely affected by the floods. Formula E has moved its pre-season test from the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia to Circuit del Jarama in Madrid. The Valencia circuit was set to host the final MotoGP race in two weeks, but MotoGP are in talks with local authorities to stage their season-ending race in Barcelona.
Conclusion
The Spanish government has faced criticism for its handling of the disaster, with protests growing over the response to the worst flash floods in modern history. The country’s football and motorsports communities have been severely impacted, with several matches and events postponed or cancelled. As rescue efforts continue, the focus remains on supporting those affected by the disaster and providing assistance to those in need.
FAQs
- How many people have died in the flash floods in Spain?
The death toll has risen to 217, with dozens still unaccounted for. - How many soldiers have been deployed to assist with the rescue efforts?
Around 7,500 soldiers have been deployed to the flood-hit east to assist rescuers. - How many Copa del Rey matches have been postponed?
Five of the seven matches have been postponed, with new schedules announced by the Spanish football federation. - How has the motorsports community been affected?
Formula E and MotoGP have been severely impacted, with events and tests postponed or cancelled.