217 Dead in Spain Floods
"Murderers"... Angry Residents' Fury
King Felipe VI of Spain and Prime Minister Pedro S?nchez visited the site severely damaged by the major flood but were pelted with mud by angry flood victims.
On the 3rd (local time), AFP, EFE, and other news agencies reported that Felipe VI, along with Queen Letizia, Prime Minister S?nchez, and Carlos Maz?n, Governor of Valencia, visited Paiporta in the Valencia region, which suffered significant damage from the flood.
King Felipe VI of Spain (the man under the umbrella) visited the flood site in Paiporta, Valencia, on the 3rd (local time), where mud thrown by people is flying through the air. Image source=Yonhap News
However, the enraged residents surrounded King Felipe VI and Prime Minister S?nchez's entourage, throwing mud and filth at them while shouting insults such as "murderers," "shame," and "get lost." One young man shouted at Felipe VI that the government's response to the flood was a "shameful act." Some demanded Governor Maz?n's resignation or shouted, "Where is S?nchez?" Although security guards quickly shielded them with umbrellas, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia ended up with mud on their faces and clothes.
King Felipe VI appeared to try to comfort the residents by staying longer than the others, but ultimately shortened the visit and left hastily. A planned visit to other flood-affected areas following Paiporta was also canceled. Later, Felipe VI posted a video on social media, stating, "We must understand the anger and frustration of the victims," and emphasized that "the state must provide hope and assurance to the victims that it remains intact."
However, Spanish broadcaster RTVE reported that the objects thrown by the crowd included stones and hard items, injuring two security guards who required medical treatment. It was also reported that the window of Prime Minister S?nchez's vehicle was broken. S?nchez expressed empathy for the suffering and pain of the flood victims but condemned "all forms of violence."
The residents' anger toward the king and government stems from their belief that the disaster was worsened by the authorities' complacent response. In Spain, as of the 3rd, at least 217 people have died due to the sudden heavy rain on the 29th of last month. Dozens remain missing, and about 3,000 households are still without power. Criticism has grown over the authorities' inadequate response, including the fact that it took more than 10 hours from when the Spanish Meteorological Agency issued a 'red alert' for heavy rain to when emergency disaster safety messages were sent to local residents, which increased casualties. Additionally, search and recovery operations have been criticized for being slow.
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