Valencia, Spain
CNN
—

Photos are happy moments. A father on vacation with his two children. Tail wagging family pets. Young girls posing for selfie.

This is the gallery of the lost. DANA Desaparecidos is a social media effort to find those whose names are still unknown in the devastating floods that ravaged eastern Spain. At least 217 people have been confirmed dead and it is stated that the death toll may increase further.

In a miraculous rescue operation, a woman who was trapped in her car for three days was found alive on Saturday. But hope is fading for those who are missing.

He still hasn’t released the missing number through the government, like his social media accounts Veal Desaparecidos We received dozens of reports of distressed families searching for their loved ones. Many communities have been out of touch for days.

The government hotline reporting missing persons due to the floods was completely full. Instead, their family and friends took to social media to announce the news.

On DANA Desparecidos, each photo includes a description of one of those currently unavailable and details of their last known location. Others post photos of lost pets, owners desperate to find animal friends.

One of the photos shows a woman arm in arm with a friend, and the caption reads: “Her name is Mila. She left Picanya at 19:00 yesterday to go home to Silla. She never came.”

Alba Lozano Asencio created the account with her boyfriend Luciano Esguerra. According to DANA Desaparcideo organizers, approximately 30 people and many pets have been located so far. Posts tagged “localizado” – or “location” are posted to let users know that someone is located, and communication is often interrupted. They are now also receiving requests for help with flood cleanup.

“People feel helpless and emergency services are overwhelmed,” Asencio told CNN. “I think an important part of the page is that it gives people some kind of hope right now.”

The slow and uncoordinated response to the crisis has angered and disappointed many in Valencia.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain scolded by angry citizens On Sunday we visited the hard-hit area of ​​Paiporta. Letizia, in particular, appeared shaken by the shouts of the “murderers” as they hurled mud at the royal couple. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was also present but was quickly whisked away by security.

The Spanish government announced on Monday that it would deploy an additional 2,500 troops to the eastern region in response to residents’ anger. According to Reuters, citing Defense Minister Margarita Robles, 5,000 soldiers were sent over the weekend to distribute food, assist with cleaning efforts and protect stores from looting.

Meanwhile, thousands of volunteers continue to advance towards the affected areas; many walk long distances through mud to help their neighbors.

Pedro de Juan, 18, had only seen scenes like this in movies, but he came to the rescue with a broom and bucket in hand.

“It’s surprising that the government says it’s not our fault. It’s someone else’s fault. “But right now we need to join hands and help each other,” he said. “The army and police are helping, but not as much as we hoped and they are days late.”

“The word is frustrating,” said Francisco Bosque, another volunteer hoping to help friends in flooded areas. “You feel completely powerless. The only thing you can do is come here and show up.”

The weather system that triggered the floods is still affecting the area and some volunteer buses have been turned away as a precaution.

Spain’s AEMET service issued a red alert for the Barcelona region, warning of heavy rain between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. (04 a.m. and 8 a.m. ET) on Monday morning. Barcelona City Council also published a flood warning on its website, urging people to be careful and avoid areas where flooding could occur.

Airport operator AENA said 50 flights from Barcelona’s El Prat Airport were canceled or severely delayed, while another 17 flights were diverted due to the storm. AENA added that weather conditions also affected train and metro services accessing the airport.

Video on social media shows one of the airport buildings partially submerged due to a heavy downpour, water flowing from parts of the roof, and some passengers wading through ankle-deep water.

AEMET also issued a new yellow and orange alert for the Castellon, Valencia and Alicante regions, warning that sudden heavy rains could cause further flooding in already devastated areas.