Dozens Still Missing: Faces of the Valencia Storm Tragedy

valencia - The region of Valencia is still searching for 32 'active' missing individuals, including two young boys aged three and five.

The region of Valencia is still dealing with the aftermath of a tragic storm that hit on October 29, with 32 'active' missing individuals reported. Among them are two young boys, aged three and five, who have yet to be located. Both volunteers and fifty members of the Military Emergency Unit are tirelessly searching for the children with the help of rescue dogs near Barranco de la Hortera in Torrent. The search is complicated due to debris and mud hindering rescue efforts.

Last Tuesday, Izan and Ruben were playing at home while their father, Victor (46), was cooking. Their mother was at work in a supermarket after dropping the children off at their grandmother's. When water began to seep into the living room around 6 pm, the children started crying. Their father tried to comfort them, but a wall collapsed under the pressure of the flooding, sweeping Izan, Ruben, and Victor into the current. Victor managed to hold onto a tree for five hours before being rescued. Unfortunately, Izan and Ruben remain missing.

Victor, who underwent multiple surgeries, is physically recovering at home, but his mental state remains fragile. His mother expressed gratitude that he made it through but highlighted the psychological toll of the events. Izan and Ruben symbolize the many missing individuals after the storm. One of the first casualties, José Hernaiz, a 64-year-old truck driver, was found dead near his vehicle days after going missing in L'Alcúdia.

Additionally, the bodies of three Valencia entrepreneurs who vanished while dining in Chiva have been identified while a fourth person remains missing. The death toll in Spain now stands at 222, with 214 confirmed deaths in Valencia alone. Despite efforts to identify the deceased, there are still 19 unidentified bodies in Valencia.