“A love, personal and from all of Spain, that needs to be expressed today,” is what the king wanted to convey Philip VI to the families of the victims of the dana. 237 names of 237 people who died in the flood that devastated a large part of the province of Valencia and other communities, such as Andalusia and Castilian-La Mancha. A “necessary” expression of pain for the monarch, who in his speech at the State funeral for the victims of the Dana, held in Valencia, considered equally necessary “continue analyzing the causes and circumstances of the tragedyin order to extract the necessary lessons with rigor and serenity.”
The monarch is therefore committed to continuing with investigations to determine how it is possible “improve our capacity to face other major catastrophes in the future and avoid or minimize their worst consequences as much as possible.”
“Desolate destruction”
He has said this before relatives of the victims, with some of whom he has met briefly before entering the space where the event is being held, and before the president of the Valencian Government, Carlos Mazónsitting in the third row next to the other two presidents of the affected communities, Emiliano García Page and Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla. Also before the President of the Government, Pedro Sanchezin the front row.
“October 29, a year later… what happened that day, that night, and what followedIt brings back tremendously hard memories for all of us. and overwhelming,” the monarch considered. The King, who was applauded upon entering the event, which managed to stop the boos and shouts against Mazón, which continued for several minutes by some of the people present, recalled the “desolate destruction” and the “immense pain—a lot of pain—that we still feel and will continue to feel.”
“Extract lessons with rigor and serenity”
The King, who has been speaking with the families of the victims along with the queen, visibly moved, has alluded to that emotion. “Every name, every story, every person is part of a memory that belongs to all of us and that together we must and want to preserve,” he highlighted. And he has admitted that he tried to put himself in their place, to imagine what he could say to them. “There are no perfect words: I only know that there is a feeling of sincere pain that unites me, that unites us, to you, to family, friends and loved ones, and that accompanies you with all love in your grief,” he added.
“A love, personal and from all of Spain, that needs to be expressed today, as it is necessary to continue analyzing the causes and circumstances of the tragedy, in order to extract with rigor and serenity the necessary lessons to improve our ability to face other major catastrophes in the future and avoid or minimize their worst consequences as much as possible,” he stressed. Because, he stated, everyone wants “that something like this does not happen again.” “Let's all do our part to prevent it from happening again,” he urged those present.
“Like a hug”
Felipe VI has also extended all that support from Queen Letizia: “The Queen and I want you to know: we are, now and always, with you.” And he has assured that his desire was for his words to be felt “like a hug.” “For those who lost so much, for those who helped and continue to do so, for those who try to overcome, for those who still seek their strength in memories,” he added. A hug “that overcomes barriers, that unites us in hope, that comforts us all, even if only slightly, and that reminds you that you are not alone,” he concluded.
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