Christodoulides expresses ‘profound sadness’ over Spanish floods

President Nikos Christodoulides on Friday expressed his “profound sadness” over the flooding disaster which has killed more than 150 people in Spain’s Valencia.

“Cyprus stands in solidarity with Spain. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those perished and all affected by this catastrophic natural disaster,” Christodoulides said, while also describing the “vast destruction” and floods as “devastating”.

The floods were caused by torrential rain in the region, with a year’s worth of rain falling in just eight hours in parts of Valencia.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said of the disaster that “right now, the most important thing is to safeguard as many lives as possible.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union stands ready to activate its civil protection mechanism and thus offer the combined assistance of the bloc’s 26 other member states.

“Europe is ready to help,” she said.