Spanish King met by angry crowd in flood-hit Valencia region

APTOPIX Spain Floods

Emergency services remove cars in an area affected by floods in Catarroja, Spain, on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Source: AP / Manu Fernandez/AP

People in flood-affected areas of Spain have hurled mud and insults towards Spanish King Felipe VI, claiming the government's response was too late. It comes as rescue teams continue their work in the aftermath of the devastating rainstorms, with fears people could have lost their lives in underground car parks.







People in Spain's flood-affected city of Paiporta chant the word "murderers" as they launch mud and other insults towards their nation's King, Felipe VI.

The Spanish monarch visited the area along with Queen Letizia to examine the devastation left behind by the recent downpour that caused massive floods across the Valencia region, leaving at least 217 people dead.

Speaking to members of the community he was informed by local authorities about cleanup efforts.

This resident took the opportunity to ask the King to provide more assistance to those in need.

“Please, the dead are still in the garages, the families are looking for their relatives and friends. Please come, we only ask for help. I thank all the Spanish people for the solidarity we have had."

Other local residents in the Valencia region also also angry over the government's slow response to the floods, saying more lives could have been saved.

They claim the authorities took too long to deliver a warning about the dangerous rising floodwaters, leaving people exposed and in danger.

Speaking to journalists after his briefing, King Felipe says the anger of residents is justified and they need to be provided with the necessary support.

"We have to give them hope (to the people affected), attend to the emergency, but also give them hope and guarantee them that the state in all its fullness is present. I believe, and this is not speculative, this is how I understand it, the means are growing and the efficiency is growing as well."

One of the residents of the town of the Massanassa, near Valencia, says they were forced to rely on support from volunteers for days after the storm broke out.

“All these past days the army was not here, there were volunteers coming in waves of hundreds and hundreds. They have helped us a lot and now we are grateful that the army is there. But I'm telling you, this happened on Tuesday, and today it is Sunday."

Gustavo Villalba a resident of the town of Chiva which was also heavily affected by the devastating storm, says people are doing their best to remain optimistic.

"You feel like crying, but at the same time you have to say no! Keep your head up; you can get through this. You’re not dead, you don’t have a missing leg, you lack nothing, and you have to move forward as best as you can. Even so, you have to put on a smile if necessary. In the midst of the bad, you have to smile as best you can."

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez says his government is going to do whatever is necessary to ensure the lives of the people affected by the floods can return to normal as soon as possible.

Speaking about the protests against King Felipe VI the Spanish Prime Minister says the violence was an isolated incident.

"We are not going to deviate despite what may happen with some absolutely marginal violent people. The Valencian and Spanish citizens as a whole want to look forward, to move their lives forward with an enormous gesture of responsibility and solidarity. And that is what the Spanish Government is going to do."

Rescue operations are focusing their efforts on the underground car parks of large shopping centres.

There are fears that people may have gotten trapped as the torrential water made its way underground, making it impossible to escape.

Mr Sanchez says the focus of the rescue teams is to complete their operations quickly so the community can move on.

“The main objective is to save lives, to recover the bodies of the people who may have died as a result of this natural tragedy and, finally, to work towards the task of rebuilding the province of Valencia and all the areas that may have been damaged by this terrible disaster, not only in the Valencian Community, but also in other parts of Spain that might be affected by this storm.”

However it seems there may be more bad weather on the way.

Meteorologists have issued a new red alert for the southern parts of Valencia, warning that they could be hit with up to 90mm of rain in less than an hour.

The Spanish national weather agency has provided a small amount of relief by saying that the upcoming storms will not be as intense as those that devastated the region last week.


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