Sir Keir Starmer has said that the UK “stands with Spain during this difficult time” after flash floods killed more than 200 people.
The Prime Minister has also been in touch with the prime minister of Spain to convey a message of condolence following this week’s flooding, it is understood.
In a post on X on Friday afternoon, Sir Keir said: “My thoughts are with those who have lost their lives, their families and all those affected by the devastation caused by the extreme flooding in Spain.”
My thoughts are with those who have lost their lives, their families and all those affected by the devastation caused by the extreme flooding in Spain.
The UK stands with Spain during this difficult time.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 1, 2024
It is thought that the Prime Minister has also written to Pedro Sanchez to relay his personal condolences after the flooding, for which the death toll rose.
The UK is also thought to be on standby to offer any support, but at this point it is not thought that any assistance has been requested.
“The Spanish people remain in the Prime Minister’s thoughts,” a Number 10 spokeswoman said on Friday.
On Thursday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that the “UK Government expresses its heartfelt condolences to those affected by the tragic floods across Spain”.
“Our thoughts are with those that have lost their lives, their families and all those affected,” he wrote on X.
The UK government expresses its heartfelt condolences to those affected by the tragic floods across Spain – our thoughts are with those that have lost their lives, their families and all those affected.
I have offered the UK's full support to my friend @jmalbares.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) October 31, 2024
Spanish emergency authorities confirmed on Friday that the death toll had risen to 205 following the flooding in Valencia earlier this week.
The Associated Press news agency reported that security forces and soldiers are searching for an unknown number of missing people, many feared to still be trapped in wrecked vehicles or flooded garages.
Spain’s Mediterranean coast is used to autumn storms that can cause flooding, but this was the most powerful flash flooding in recent memory.
Scientists link it to climate change, which is also behind increasingly high temperatures and droughts in Spain and the heating up of the Mediterranean Sea.
Arsenal Football Club’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta also addressed the floods when he spoke to reporters on Friday.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr Arteta spoke about the “terrible disaster” and added: “I want to send from our side our thoughts, our full support, and our sympathy to everybody that is getting affected: all the families, all the individuals, and obviously all the country that is pulling together to try to find the best possible solution in this difficult moment.”
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