Inma Lidón Valencia

Valencia

Updated Monday, February 26, 2024-20:35

  • Origin The Valencia fire could have been caused by the short circuit of an awning mechanism

  • Fire The bureaucratic entanglement of the victims of the Valencia fire: from getting an ID to how to rebuild the building

"They have empathized a lot with us. They have listened to each of us for a few minutes and they have been very close. Each one has been able to tell them what they feel and ask them to help us so that they do not forget us, that we will continue with this problem for a long time."

It is the summary that one of those affected by the

Campanar fire

made of the one-hour meeting that King

Felipe VI

and

Queen Letizia

held in the privacy of the Palau de la Música.

The Kings traveled to Valencia and wanted to be close to the affected families and be able to listen to them.

In principle, three of them had been selected to speak on behalf of everyone, but in the end it was the monarchs themselves who wanted to listen to all those affected "case by case" and "family by family."

"It has been a comfort to receive your affection

," said those affected as they left.

The concerns that the neighbors have raised range from the help they may receive to rebuild the building to what might happen to their mortgages that they had not yet finished paying.

"They have come to listen, informally and to support, not to inform or announce anything. Each person has had the opportunity to speak to them and everyone has been able to express their concerns," said Alexandra, another of those affected by the fire.

The Kings have greeted the victims accompanied by the president of the Generalitat,

Carlos Mazón

;

the Government delegate in the Valencian Community,

Pilar Bernabé

;

the mayor of Valencia,

María José Catalá

;

the Minister of Science and Innovation,

Diana Morant,

and the president of the Valencia Provincial Council,

Vicent Mompó

.

Afterwards, they went to 'ground zero' to thank the work of the State security forces and bodies, firefighters, civil protection, health workers, psychologists and residents of Campanar who went out of their way to offer help.

The Kings greeted each other one by one and thanked them for "the great physical and emotional effort" they experienced since Thursday afternoon.

"You are prepared for anything, but something like this surpasses anyone," commented the group that wanted to form to say a few words.