The Navy Deploys to Aid the People of Valencia

The Navy maintains a contingent of over a thousand personnel – specifically 1,057 as of yesterday, November 11 – in support of the ongoing efforts in Valencia and its surroundings affected by the floods of last October 29.

This human effort of sailors and Marines is reflected in the various general and specific support capabilities that the Navy has deployed to carry out the fundamental tasks that are still being performed in the affected areas: cleaning and debris removal, water pumping, diving, mud thickness measurement, and checking of structures and access routes, as well as surface and underwater search, and contributing to the distribution of donations to the civilian population.

To undertake these tasks, the Navy has moved and deployed the following contingents in the province:

• Deployed resources for land support: 

o Marine Infantry Force: 628 Marines from: 586 from the Tercio de Armada, 25 from the Naval Special Warfare Force, 11 from the Tercio de Levante, and 6 from the Tercio del Sur. 

o General Albacete y Fuster Marine Infantry School: 11 Marines, drivers. 

o Mine Countermeasures Force: 38 personnel. 

o Navy Diving Center: 24 personnel. 

o Command of the Maritime Action Force Units of Cartagena: 43 personnel. 

o Naval Hydrographic Institute: 13 personnel. 

Narwal vessel and USV Veril.

• Amphibious Assault Ship "Galicia": 151 personnel. 

o Beach Naval Group: 33 personnel with 2 LCME boats. 

o Embarked Air Unit: 25 personnel with 2 SH 60F helicopters. 

o Role 1: a doctor and 2 nurses.

• Mine Countermeasures Force: 

o Embarked Staff: 5 personnel. 

o Minesweeper "Duero": 40 personnel. 

o Minesweeper "Sella": 38 personnel. 

o Diver Unit: 7 personnel (aboard the "Sella") 

The entire Navy Force is under the tactical command of the general commander of the Tercio de Armada, Marine Infantry General José Sanz Alisedo, who, with his Staff, has established his Command Post at the Naval Command of Valencia.

All Navy personnel deployed in the area work with the sole purpose of mitigating the effects of the natural disaster that has devastated the province and to contribute to the restoration of normal civilian life as soon as possible. In this continued effort, sailors and Marines work side by side with the citizens of the affected localities and the volunteers in the area.