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Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia faced an angry backlash during a visit to the flood-ravaged Valencia region on Monday, where crowds hurled eggs and booed as they met with residents. The disaster has claimed more than 200 lives, and local frustrations are mounting over what many view as a slow and inadequate response by authorities.
As the royal couple visited Paiporta, a hard-hit town near Valencia, chants of "murderer" rang out, primarily directed at the king. Alongside the royals were Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Valencia’s regional governor, Carlos Mazon, both of whom also became targets of public outrage. Residents, many visibly distraught, voiced accusations of government negligence.
In a tense moment captured on video, the crowd surged forward while security personnel shielded the officials with umbrellas. King Felipe lowered his umbrella to listen to a resident’s grievances, remaining calm even as police struggled to manage the restless crowd. Queen Letizia, visibly shaken, held her head in her hands as she interacted with residents.
Later, the Royal Family’s social media accounts shared images of the king and queen embracing tearful survivors, including footage of Felipe comforting several crying individuals. The king, generally seen as a unifying figure since his ascension, rarely encounters such hostility directly.
Although frustration appeared largely aimed at Sanchez and Mazon, who left before the king, Felipe insisted on staying despite the chaos. In a statement, Sanchez’s office cited security protocol as the reason for his early departure. Mazon posted on X (formerly Twitter), acknowledging residents' anger but praising the king's "exemplary" conduct.
The official death toll now stands at 214, with rescue teams still searching for survivors. Among the latest casualties was a 70-year-old woman whose body was found nearly eight miles from her home. The initial response to the crisis has been criticized as sluggish, with text alerts arriving hours after meteorologists first warned of impending floods.
On Saturday, Sanchez authorized an additional 5,000 troops to assist in recovery efforts, calling the flooding "the worst natural disaster in Spain’s history." He admitted the response had been “not enough,” expressing regret over the delays.
Political challenges have also played a role, with Sanchez’s federal government unable to release emergency funds without approval from regional authorities, which didn’t come until four days after the floods hit. This lag has only fueled local anger.
By Sunday, Spain’s meteorology agency, AEMET, raised its alert level to red in coastal Valencia, warning of further rainfall. While the red warning was downgraded by Monday, parts of Castellón and Tarragona remain on alert for heavy rains.
Local authorities and police advised residents to take shelter, with videos showing police urging people via megaphones to stay off streets near flood-prone areas. Aldaia Mayor Guillermo Lujan posted warnings on social media, telling residents to avoid flood zones. In Mazarrón, the regional government of Murcia issued SMS alerts for residents to avoid certain areas as water levels continued to rise.
As government resources remain stretched, thousands of volunteers have turned up to clear flood debris. However, overwhelmed authorities have struggled to manage the outpouring of help, leading to shortages in supplies and transportation delays. Pedro de Juan, 18, who lined up before dawn to volunteer, expressed the frustration felt by many.
“It’s shocking how the government tries to shift the blame instead of responding quickly. But we have to come together,” he said. “The military and police are helping, but it’s days too late.”
[Information sourced from CNN]
