Municipalities such as Valencia, Alicante, Elche, Gandia, and Sagunto joined the call from the Valencian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FVMP) to remember the deceased and injured from the double earthquake that struck northern Venezuela last Wednesday. The latest official figures report 1,450 deaths and 3,150 injuries, including 17 Spanish citizens.
In Valencia, Mayor Mª José Catalá explained that the City Council is in contact with the resident Venezuelan community to understand their needs. "Valencia knows what suffering is," she stated, recalling the recent DANA, and assured that all resources have been mobilized to help. Municipal firefighters, specialized dogs, and an emergency fund of 100,000 euros have been offered, with a particular focus on children.
The Alicante City Council also held a minute of silence in front of the municipal building, attended by Mayor Luis Barcala and representatives from associations like the International Democratic Alliance (ADI). The city had previously illuminated its facade with the colors of the Venezuelan flag the night before.
Other cities such as Elche, with a minute of silence in Plaza de Baix, and Gandia, with the presence of its mayor José Manuel Prieto, adhered to the initiative.
Meanwhile, nearly twenty cooperation NGOs have activated their emergency plans. The president of the Valencian Coordinator of ONGD, Enrique Asensi, highlighted the importance of international aid to address immediate needs and recovery processes. Organizations are assessing damage, distributing shelters, water, food, and hygiene kits, reinforcing medical care, and providing psychosocial support, especially to minors and displaced persons. Emergency funds and fundraising campaigns have been launched.
