Spain’s king and queen pelted with mud in flood-hit Valencia

During a visit to flood-stricken Valencia, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain were met with hostile protests, where they were pelted with mud and other objects by angry demonstrators. The royal couple, accompanied by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, faced shouts of “murderer” and “shame” as they walked through Paiporta, one of the towns hardest hit by the devastating floods.

The floods, described as the worst in decades, have claimed the lives of over 200 people, leading to widespread outrage over the perceived lack of timely warnings and inadequate support from authorities. Emergency workers continue to search through underground car parks and tunnels in hopes of finding survivors or recovering bodies.

Footage captured during the visit showed a tense scene as King Felipe VI navigated a pedestrian street, only to be overwhelmed by protesters who surged forward, throwing insults and debris. Despite the chaos, the king attempted to engage with some demonstrators, even embracing a few amidst the uproar. Images from the incident revealed the royal couple covered in mud, as their entourage attempted to shield them with umbrellas while leaving the area.

As tensions escalated, Prime Minister Sánchez and the head of the Valencian regional government, Carlos Mazón, were swiftly evacuated from the scene. Reports indicate that objects, including stones, were thrown at Sánchez’s vehicle as he departed, prompting chants of “Where is Sánchez?” from the crowd.

The emotional impact of the disaster was evident among the demonstrators. A tearful 16-year-old boy named Pau expressed his frustration to the BBC, saying, “We’re helping – and the leaders do nothing. People are still dying. I can’t stand this anymore.” Another woman lamented the loss of her home and livelihood, stating, “They left us to die. We’ve lost everything: our businesses, our homes, our dreams.”

In response to the growing unrest, the civil guard and mounted police were deployed to disperse the crowd. The royal visit was originally intended to extend to Chiva, another town affected by the flooding, but this leg of the trip has since been postponed.

Later, King Felipe acknowledged the “anger and frustration” of the protesters in a video shared on the royal household’s Instagram account. The mayor of Paiporta, Maribel Albalat, expressed shock at the violence but emphasized her understanding of the people’s desperation and frustration.

Juan Bordera, a member of the Valencian parliament, criticized the royal visit as “a very bad decision.” He asserted that authorities had failed to heed warnings, stating, “It’s logical that the people are angry. They didn’t understand why this visit is so urgent.”

In light of the disaster, Sánchez announced the deployment of an additional 10,000 troops, police officers, and civil guards to the affected regions, marking Spain’s largest peacetime mobilization. However, he admitted that this response was “not enough,” acknowledging the “severe problems and shortages” faced by those impacted.

The flooding, which began earlier in the week due to intense rainfall, caused significant infrastructure damage, including the collapse of bridges and the inundation of entire towns. Many communities have been left isolated, lacking access to essential services such as water, food, and electricity.

As of Sunday, the death toll had risen to 217, with many others feared missing. The majority of casualties have been reported in the Valencia region along the Mediterranean coast, with Paiporta alone accounting for at least 62 deaths.

In response to the ongoing crisis, Spain’s meteorological agency AEMET issued its highest level of alert for parts of southern Valencia, including the cities of Alzira, Cullera, and Gandia. While intense storms are expected to pass through the area, they are forecasted to be less severe than those that triggered the floods, with anticipated rainfall reaching up to 90 mm (3.45 inches).

As the region grapples with the aftermath of this tragedy, the protests highlight the deep frustration and anger felt by residents who feel abandoned by their leaders during this critical time. The royal family’s visit, intended to show solidarity, instead became a focal point for the community’s grief and demand for accountability from those in power.