MADRID – Spanish authorities have greenlit a massive relief package totaling roughly 7 billion euros ($8 billion) on Tuesday to assist those impacted by devastating storms that struck the Extremadura and Andalusia regions in recent weeks.
Multiple severe weather systems have pummeled Spain and Portugal throughout the early months of this year, resulting in extensive infrastructure destruction and crop losses while prompting officials to relocate thousands of residents to safety.
“The help will compensate more than 12,400 people evacuated because of these events and mitigate the impact of heavy rains and flooding on houses, businesses and the agricultural and fishing sectors,” Budget Minister Maria Jesus Montero explained to media representatives. Montero indicated that additional financial support remains possible pending comprehensive damage assessments from specialists.
The storm systems destroyed at least 14,000 hectares (35,000 acres) of agricultural land, affecting berry farms, citrus groves, and olive orchards, as Agriculture Minister Luis Planas reported to national broadcaster TVE during the previous week.
Weather monitoring agency AEMET has documented that Spain has experienced 38% above-normal precipitation levels since October began.
Meanwhile, Portuguese officials initially calculated reconstruction expenses exceeding 4 billion euros following Storm Kristin’s destruction three weeks ago, subsequently implementing 2.5 billion euros in financial assistance programs and rebuilding incentives.
