The Government's priority is to return to normality in the areas affected by the DANA

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

Pedro Sánchez chairs the meeting of the crisis committee to monitor the effects of the DANA (Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo)

Ángel Víctor Torres has reported in a new appearance on the last meeting of the Crisis Committee for the monitoring of the effects of the DANA held in Moncloa Palace under the presidency of Pedro Sánchez.

As with the president of the Government of Spain and the head of the UME, Torres recalled that "we are in the largest peacetime deployment this country has ever had, also in accordance with the magnitude of this tragedy and this drama," and that "we are going to continue working on this, because it is the priority of the Government of Spain: to reach normalisation as soon as possible." "That is the objective, that is the goal, the lighthouse that guides the action of all the ministries of the Government of Spain."

The minister began his speech by updating some of the information on the deployment and work being carried out in this first phase of the emergency response. He pointed out that in the affected area there are:

• 8,500 military personnel, 10,000 National Police and Guardia Civil officers. Some 20,000 people, plus local police and other forces, plus many volunteers.
• 2,600 military vehicles.
• 107 Army industrial engineer machines.
• 3,843 operational resources (helicopters, ambulances, ships, drones, etc.).

In addition, the following has been distributed:

• 179,950 litres of water.
• 36,000 kilos of food rations.

He also explained that "work continues on a permanent basis in all the affected villages" and that "the priority now is to remove the mud and also the belongings and waste that are in the nuclei of these towns" of the ground zero of the DANA. In addition to this, the Government has also set itself the objective of "making progress in connectivity towards Valencia," in infrastructures. In this regard, he pointed out that:

• The N-330 and the bypass will be operational on Monday.
• The A-7 motorway is expected to be ready on Wednesday.
• On Thursday, High Speed connectivity between Madrid and Valencia will be restored.
• And sections of suburban lines C1 and C2 will be opened, complemented by an extraordinary bus line.

The minister insisted that all this work is being carried out in four shifts, "24 hours a day" and "seven days a week," in order to achieve - with the emergency tenders - to shorten the deadlines and be able to have these roads and railway infrastructures open as soon as possible. He also reported that mobile telephony, as well as electricity and gas supplies, are now almost fully back to normal. And 2,599 vehicles have already been taken off the roads.

Extraordinary Council of Ministers on Monday

With regard to aid for those affected - and after recalling the 10.6 billion euros approved in last Tuesday's Royal Decree, as well as the agreement of the Seriously Affected Zone - Ángel Víctor Torres announced that an extraordinary Council of Ministers would be held on Monday to adopt new measures and aid to respond to the emergency in this initial phase.

Likewise, this Monday, a group of public workers will begin to operate in different municipalities to help those affected with the processing of aid applications. This outreach work will begin in 10 localities and will gradually be extended, for which 100 people are being trained. Torres reported that the Ministry of Economy's Compensation Consortium has received more than 150,000 applications, 51% of which have already been processed (around 80,000) and the first payments are being made.

Demonstration in Valencia

Asked about the demonstration that took place yesterday in the Valencian capital, Torres expressed the Government's "respect" for this "citizen right" of peaceful and regulated public expression. He insisted that the Government's priority is "to respond to the emergency" and "to devote all our efforts to this, because we are convinced that this is what those affected want," beyond the debates that will surely take place at the appropriate time.

Non official translation