The devastation generated by DANA in the south of the metropolitan area of Valencia has left practically all economic activity in that region on hold. Six days after the gigantic wave of water that devastated dozens of Valencian municipalities, 90% of the companies in the affected area remain paralyzed, according to the estimates of the Ministry of Economy itself.
To get an idea of the economic magnitude of the stoppage, it is estimated that More than 54,000 companies work in these 70 affected municipalities.more than a third of all those that operate in the province of Valencia, according to information from the Valencia Chamber of Commerce. In half of these towns the damage has been classified as very serious or severe, including ground zero of the catastrophe, with towns such as Paiporta, Picanya or Sedaví, where chaos and destruction in the streets continue to prevent the opening of businesses and companies. That war zone alone covers nearly 35,000 shops, offices, hospitality businesses and companies with more than 215,000 workers.
This southern corridor of Valencia is home to some of the largest shopping areas in the entire metropolitan area, with multinational stores such as Ikea, Carrefour, Media Markt or Leroy Merlin. Furthermore, the L’Horta Sud region historically concentrates the Valencian furniture industry and many suppliers, who have converted to industries such as motors or metal. As explained by sectoral employers, the destruction in many of them has been total.
Another of the most affected areas is the eastern area of Valencia, the A-3 corridor. Although that road has been reopened, activity is impossible in its surroundings due to the search for victims still underway, as in the Bonaire shopping center in Aldaya. The largest industrial estate in Ribarroja, the main logistics hub of Valencia, has begun to receive workers but In most companies they have focused on debris removal work. Mercadona has reestablished the dry goods service in its logistics block and is working to reopen the rest of the complex in that municipality. Juan Roig’s chain is also working to reopen stores that were unused and is supplying its centers from Sagunto and Alicante. Consum is experiencing a similar situation, with 11 points of sale, both owned and franchised, that could not open this Monday and its distribution platforms in Quart, Silla and Ribarroja are still affected. One of the large agri-food industries in the area, Familia Martínez, a Mercadona supplier, has managed to maintain production in the plants in Torrent, Cheste and Buñol to guarantee basic supply, while at the same time it has implemented measures to support its workers affected by DANA.
In municipalities where the effects of water have not been so harmful, activity has not been able to recover normally either. In some cases because many companies with machinery and equipment have made them available to the authorities. Added to this is the lack of workers who have either been directly affected or, in most cases, have mobility problems. It is estimated that More than 80,000 damaged vehicles have been left on the roads and streets alone.. From the public administration, unions and Valencian employers’ association CEV, a message was launched on Sunday to opt for teleworking in positions where it was feasible to avoid traffic jams.
The largest Valencian, The Ford plant in Almussafes has been stopped since Tuesday to avoid the displacement of its more than 4,000 workers. This will continue at least until November 11, since ERTE days were planned.
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