The shameful situation shown by Iker Jiménez from the ground zero of the cold drop

Critical situations, such as those Spain is experiencing these days, are what put true journalism to the test.

The incomprehensible delay of the government in deploying the Army due to the cold drop
The political parties and deputies who have stepped over the catastrophe to assault RTVE

Last night, Iker Jiménez presented his program "Horizonte" on Channel Cuatro from Paiporta (Valencia), one of the towns most damaged by the cold snap of October 29. Next to him was the YouTuber Ángel Gaitán, who sent several vans with basic necessities to the town, in yet another example of what has been seen these days in the city of Valencia, where multitudes of residents are going to the affected areas to bring help, including water and food, since the flood has left entire neighborhoods without electricity and without running water.

Some images seen in that program looked like scenes from a war zone, due to the serious damage caused by the flood, but also because of thefts and looting that are taking place in both shops and homes, which has led some residents to carry out citizen patrols to protect their neighborhoods from looters. The program showed businesses that have been completely looted by unscrupulous people who were not looking for water and food, but rather to appropriate other people's goods that are not essential, taking advantage of the opportunity.

A scene that was repeated in several places where connections were made in the program consisted of neighbors crying out for water from their windows and balconies, since they lack something so basic to be able to drink, cook and wash. The program showed entire streets completely in darkness, since the street lighting does not work. The neighbors also do not have internet or mobile telephony, since the flood destroyed these services. They are cut off from communication in the midst of the catastrophe.

It also happens that in these areas there may still be corpses trapped in garages, since at the moment the emergency services and the Civil Guard have not yet been able to access these places as they are all flooded. As Dr. Cabrera pointed out in the program, more than 800 people are missing, so the final death toll could be enormous. This is a dramatic situation that could get worse if residents do not receive immediate help. This could lead to a serious health crisis.

While all this is going on, the national government and the regional government are blaming each other, in a shameful spectacle in which our politicians seem more concerned with evading their responsibility than with taking the necessary decisions to help those affected, as if they could wait for our leaders to stop blaming each other. It is a pitiful spectacle.

The role of the national government is especially shameful, as several regions are affected (seeing the government's messages, it gives the impression that the cold snap has only occurred in the Valencian Community, but that is not the case). Yesterday it was news that the government refused to assume sole command of the management of the cold snap, despite the fact that it has the legal and material means to assume command in such a situation.

Particularly outrageous is the insufficient deployment of the Armed Forces, taking into account the enormous magnitude of the catastrophe. Many Spaniards are perceiving that the government is acting late, badly and lazily, as if it were deliberately seeking to make the situation worse so that it can blame its political rivals, who govern in the Valencian Community. The fact that the government has given priority to attacking the RTVE board of directors and not to taking the necessary measures to help those affected only reinforces this impression.

What we saw yesterday on "Horizonte" is confirmation that, as happened with the pandemic in 2020, once again we have the worst possible government at the worst time. A government with which we are witnessing scenes that seem typical of a third world country, and not a developed country like Spain is (or was). Perhaps the government's rush to attack RTVE was so that nothing of what we saw yesterday on "Horizonte" could be seen through the public channel that all Spaniards pay for with our taxes, even if we never see it and even if RTVE acts as a simple agency of the Socialist Party. Fortunately, there are still media and journalists willing to tell what others keep quiet. Thank you, Iker.

+ UPDATED 20:11h: Iker Jiménez and his team are still in the area distributing aid. Here we can see a video from this afternoon. Admirable work.

Estamos llevando material básico a Paiporta. Pero hay otros pueblos que también lo necesitan. Gracias a todos los que están ayudando. pic.twitter.com/yCkDUJHab9

— Iker Jiménez (@navedelmisterio) November 1, 2024