Paiporta: Hundreds of frustrated residents in Paiporta, a Valencia suburb devastated by last week’s deadly floods, voiced their anger on Sunday during a visit from Spanish King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Emotions ran high as some protestors threw mud and chanted “Murderers, murderers!”—a response to what they perceive as delayed warnings and slow emergency response to Tuesday’s flood disaster.
“It was known and nobody did anything to avoid it,” one young man expressed directly to the king, who stayed to listen to residents despite the chaotic atmosphere. Prime Minister Sanchez, however, departed soon after the protests intensified. Wearing a dark raincoat, Felipe attempted to comfort locals, including a man he embraced while the man cried on his shoulder. Meanwhile, Queen Letizia was seen tearfully hugging residents, her face and clothes stained with mud. One of her bodyguards reportedly had blood on his face, seemingly injured by an object thrown in the crowd.
Blame and Accountability
The response to the crisis has sparked a blame game among Spanish officials. The central government claims that issuing warnings falls under the responsibility of regional authorities, while Valencia’s local government maintains it acted as best it could given the information available. Prime Minister Sanchez stated on Saturday that any potential negligence would be investigated, calling for unity amid the crisis.
Carlos Mazon, Valencia’s regional leader who also visited Paiporta amidst boos from residents, later expressed empathy in a post on X (formerly Twitter), acknowledging the public’s frustration. “I understand the public anger and, of course, I will stay to receive it. It is my political and moral obligation. The King’s attitude this morning has been exemplary,” Mazon wrote.
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Rising Death Toll and Ongoing Efforts
The death toll from the flash floods has risen to 217, with nearly all fatalities recorded in the Valencia region—over 60 of them in Paiporta alone. Authorities report dozens still missing, while about 3,000 homes remain without power. In response, thousands of additional troops and police have been deployed in the largest peacetime disaster relief operation in Spain’s history.
Floodwaters have swallowed streets, submerged ground floors, and swept away vehicles, causing widespread destruction in Valencia. The tragedy is now considered Europe’s deadliest flood-related disaster since 1967, when Portugal lost over 500 lives in a similar catastrophe.
Experts attribute the frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events to climate change, noting that warming Mediterranean waters contribute to severe rain patterns by increasing water evaporation rates.
