VALENCIA: Furious locals pelted Spain’s royal family and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Sunday with mud and shouts of “murderers!”, forcing officials to cut short their visit to the flood-stricken town of Paiporta where floods have killed more than 200 people.
The royal couple, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, arrived at a crisis center in Paiporta, which has become ground zero for the disaster described by Sanchez as the second deadliest flood in Europe this century.
However, their presence quickly escalated tensions, as many in the crowd directed their anger primarily towards Sanchez and Carlos Mazon, head of the Valencia region.
Witnesses reported that the king and queen were hit with mud as they attempted to calm the agitated crowd. Broadcast live on Spanish television, the scenes underscored widespread frustration regarding the government’s response to the ongoing crisis, which began after torrential rain and mudslides swept through the area earlier in the week.
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Sanchez and other political leaders were quickly escorted away by security personnel, while the king and queen remained for about an hour to address the crowd before also departing. Later reports indicated that their planned visit to the region had been suspended due to safety concerns.
The floods, which have primarily affected the Valencia region, have led to extensive damage and loss of life. The Spanish meteorological agency issued new warnings for further heavy rain, with forecasts predicting up to 100 liters of rain per square meter in certain areas. This could exacerbate the already dire situation, as thousands of security and emergency personnel continue to work around the clock to clear debris and search for missing individuals.
Criticism has mounted against the authorities for their slow response to the disaster. Mazon faced significant backlash for delaying the issuance of a phone alert until Tuesday evening, despite extreme weather warnings earlier that day.
In a press conference, Sanchez acknowledged the inadequacies of the government’s response, stating, “I am aware the response is not enough… we have to improve.”
Residents in the flood-affected areas have expressed their outrage and desperation. Estrella Caceres, a 66-year-old from Sedavi, expressed her frustration, stating, “Thank you to the people who have come to help us, to all of them, because from the authorities: nothing.”
Despite government restrictions on volunteers, many have made their way to affected communities, carrying food and cleaning supplies to aid the recovery process.
The storm that triggered the floods, caused by cold air moving over warm Mediterranean waters, is a common occurrence during this time of year. However, experts warn that climate change is intensifying the severity and frequency of such extreme weather events.
