Spain’s left-wing government announced plans on Tuesday to grant year-long residence and work permits to approximately 25,000 migrants impacted by last year’s devastating floods in eastern Spain, according to the migration ministry.
The flash floods, which struck in late October, claimed the lives of over 220 people as they swept away cars and flooded underground parking lots and ground-floor homes in the Valencia area. The disaster was one of the deadliest natural catastrophes in Spain’s recent history.
Nearly 60,000 homes, around 105,000 cars, and more than 10,000 businesses were either destroyed or damaged, as reported by government sources.
The newly announced measures will also provide student permits and are expected to support at least 25,000 migrants, along with their families, who lived in the flood-affected areas between October 28 and November 4, as per the ministry’s statement.
“The primary aim is to protect vulnerable foreigners and ensure they do not find themselves in an illegal status,” the statement added.
Spain has maintained a largely welcoming stance toward migrants, who have played a significant role in the country’s robust economic growth, which surpasses the eurozone average. This policy contrasts with other European nations like Italy and Germany, which have increasingly sought to impose stricter border controls.
As part of its long-term strategy, Spain also plans to legalize around 900,000 undocumented migrants over the next three years to address labor shortages caused by an aging population.
