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Valencia Flood Aftermath: Forensic and Psychological Support

The devastating floods in Valencia have overwhelmed local forensic teams, leading to assistance from other regions to identify bodies and support grieving families.

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Spain

HealthDisasterFloodSupportPsychologyForensics

Instituto De Medicina Legal Y Ciencias Forenses De MadridInstituto De Medicina Legal Y Ciencias Forenses De ValenciaGuardia Civil De ValenciaOficinas De Atención A Víctimas De Delitos (Oavs)

Emilio DonatEva Ruiz

Describe the process of identifying the bodies of the victims.: The identification process involves a multi-step procedure including initial assessment, autopsies with DNA sampling, and comparison of pre- and post-mortem data. The availability of pre-mortem data from family members' reports significantly affects the speed of identification.
What were the primary causes of death among the flood victims in Valencia?: The majority of deaths in the Valencian Community floods were caused by asphyxiation due to inhaling mud and debris, not drowning. Forensics teams are working extensively to identify the bodies, a process complicated by the condition of the remains.
What kind of support is being offered to the families of the victims and the missing?: In addition to forensic teams, six psychologists from Madrid are providing emotional support to the families of the victims and the missing. This aid focuses on providing immediate comfort and ongoing assistance as they grapple with grief and uncertainty.
What assistance has been provided by other autonomous communities to aid in the forensic efforts?: Forensics experts from Madrid have been deployed to assist their Valencian colleagues, working 12-hour days. The sheer volume of autopsies and identifications required due to the scale of the disaster necessitates this external support.
How does the experience in Valencia compare to previous large-scale disasters faced by the forensic teams?: The scale and complexity of the aftermath of the DANA storm in Valencia presents unprecedented challenges, even for experienced forensic professionals. The experience differs from other large-scale disasters like the 11-M bombings or the Spanair crash in terms of the condition of the bodies.

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