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Date Published: 05/11/2024

Missing persons mystery: Why there are no official figures following the Valencia disaster

Media reports in Spain that 1,900 people are still missing following the floods could be wildly misleading

The devastating DANA storm that ravaged Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalucía has left a trail of destruction and chaos in its wake. As the search for missing persons continues, a staggering figure has been circulating on social media and in the news: 1,900 people reported missing.

But where did this number come from, and how accurate is it?

In the aftermath of the disaster, misinformation has spread like wildfire, fuelling anxiety and confusion. The figure of 1,900 missing people has been repeated and shared widely, but the truth behind it is far more complex.

The origin of this number lies in a tweet from a well-known Spanish media outlet, which claimed to have access to the minutes of a crisis meeting between Carlos Mazón, President of the Generalitat Valenciana and Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Minister of the Interior of Spain.

However, the actual data refers to the number of calls received by the 112 emergency services, not the number of people still missing.

The key to understanding the discrepancy lies in the distinction between "reported missing" and "missing."

When someone reports a person missing to the 112 emergency services, it doesn't necessarily mean that person is still unaccounted for. In many cases, the individual may have turned up safe and sound, but not reported it to the authorities.

This means that the figure of 1,900 reported missing people may include duplicates, and it's impossible to determine how many of these individuals are still unaccounted for.

Further investigation reveals that the initial report mentioned 2,500 people missing on 112, which was later reduced to 1,900. However, this report doesn't provide information on how many of these individuals have been located, leaving the public with more questions than answers.

What we do know is that the DANA and subsequent flooding have claimed the lives of 214 people as of 3pm on November 3, but sadly, this is unlikely to be the final figure. While miracles are happening every day and would-be victims are still being rescued against all odds, the search for missing persons is ongoing and this number is likely to climb even higher.

Also of interest: Why the floods in Valencia happened and who is responsible

Image: Guardia Civil

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