The parking lot of the Bonaire shopping center, the largest in the Valencian Community and one of the largest in Spain, has become one of the epicenters of the tragedy caused by DANA. The flood completely flooded the two floors of the underground garage and no one knows exactly how many people could have been trapped inside. Rescue teams continue bailing out water this Monday to gain access to its interior.
Less than a hundred vehicles trapped
The Bonaire shopping center has 5,700 parking spaces, although only about 2,500 are in the two underground floors, which were completely flooded by the flood. There is no official data on how many vehicles could have been trapped inside, but the mayor of Aldaia, Guillermo Luján, assured this Monday that It was “practically empty” and has estimated that there may be “less than a hundred vehicles.”
No victims have been found yet.
At the moment, around twenty vehicles that were submerged by water have been inspected without any fatalities yet being located. Until now, it has been possible to carry out inspections with drones and Divers have also submerged equipped with thermal cameras, while work continues to remove all the accumulated water and be able to access all corners of the underground.
During the weekend, troops from all the State Security Forces and Corps worked, including members of the Group of Underwater Activities Specialists (GEAS) of the Civil Guard and the Parachute Sapper Squadron (EZAPAC) of the Air Force. but this monday Only members of the Military Emergency Unit (UME) are working.
50 UME troops working this Monday
Sources from the UME explain to this newspaper that there are currently 50 soldiers from this unit working in the shopping center: “They are still bailing water, but you can now enter the first basement with wading suits and are currently reconnoitering the area.” They also indicate that in the latest assessment from early this morning “no body had been found” in that first basement.
Basement 2 is still flooded
From the UME they detail that the military is already recognizing the first basement, but that the second floor continues to be flooded by water and the bailing work continues. That is, still It has not been possible to access the second underground floorin which there could also be a vehicle. In any case, it is estimated that there would be few, since the first floor was practically empty, as reported by the mayor of Aldaia.
Five access ramps
The underground of the Bonaire shopping center flooded quickly, as it has with five access ramps for vehicles through which the water from the flood entered. In addition, there are several pedestrian accesses through which water also entered.
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